Yoga moves are highly touted for its ability to increase flexibility and muscle strength, but many people do not realize how helpful it can be for back pain as well. Because the back is full of muscles and tendons just like every other area of the body, it is important to keep it flexible and strong with regular exercise. Although some forms of exercise are hard on the back and can exacerbate pain, yoga can help to minimize some types of back pain if it is done correctly. Here are two important Yoga moves that may help soothe your pain and help you to live a more fulfilling life:

1.       Two-Knee Twist

This yoga position is very easy to perform and is gentle on the back as long as you do it carefully and slowly. Start with lying on your back, then bring your knees up and bend them at a 90-degree angle and keep your knees together while bringing your arms gently out to the sides. Take a deep breath, then exhale as you slowly lower legs to the right side of your body while keeping your torso still. Stop when you feel a stretch in your lower back and hold the position for 1 – 2 minutes. Repeat on the other side of the body. Read more »

Living with chronic pain can make you feel helpless and like you are at the mercy of medication. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that, in some cases, a person may be more in control of the pain they feel than previously thought. There are many ways of using the power of the mind to combat pain. For example, positive thinking is a powerful tool in combating physical pain, helping to dull not only the sensation of pain itself but also some of the side effects like depression and lethargy. However, there’s a lot more to positive thinking than just telling yourself that everything will turn out all right. Use some of these tips to boost your ability to manage pain using only the power of your mind.

Think about Something Pleasant

One subset of positive thinking is focusing on pleasant things to distract yourself from pain. By using the power of the mind to combat pain, your pleasant thoughts distract you from the pain felt. For example, some research suggests that fantasizing about a favorite food can dull the affects of pain in many cases. Read more »

Whether you are a member of a sports league or just play for fun with friends, you are still at risk for a sports injury. These types of injuries can be quite tricky to recover from, and some can continue to cause pain long after the injury has ostensibly healed. Here’s what you need to know about preventing and treating a sports injury that crops up while playing sports or exercising.

Types of Injuries

Sports injuries can be broadly divided into two distinct categories: traumatic injuries and repetitive stress injuries. Traumatic injuries include broken bones, contusions, concussions, sprains, and others caused by falling, tackling, or unexpected forces exerted on the body. Repetitive stress injuries are caused by overworking a joint or muscle, such as in the case of tendinosis or runner’s knee.

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