Yoga for Back Pain – Remedy for Back Problems During Pregnancy

It goes without a doubt that a solid core is important to taking care of your back. The back provides support to the entire spine. A solid core not only removes unnecessary pressure from the back but also helps with proper spinal alignment. Practicing yoga for back pain provides more strength to the core and gives your spine a good stretch.

Your back is made up of several elements like ligaments, discs, bones, tendons, and muscles. Back pain makes it clear that there is something wrong with either of these components. Back problems are generally broken down into three major categories. Let us find out what each of these categories includes.

1. Mechanical Problems

The majority of chronic back pain occurs as a result of mechanical problems. These can include health issues like Sciatica, Degenerated Disc, Traumatic Injuries, Radiculopathy, or a Ruptured or Herniated Disc.

2. Strain

The everyday activities cause wear and tear on your body and this can cause back pain. A strain is a temporary medical condition but can have a serious impact on your body’s functioning if not treated on time. The causes of too much strain on the back include sprains, unhealthy weight gain, sitting for extended periods of time, pregnancy, and carrying too much heavy item.

3. Medical Conditions

There are specific medical conditions that cause back pain. These include Scoliosis, Kidney stones, Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis, Arthritis, Spinal Stenosis, and Spondylolisthesis among others. Practicing yoga for back pain gives you relief from these painful conditions.

There it is, the three major categories of back pain. Now, let us understand how exactly does pregnancy cause back pain.

The Three Causes of Back Pain During Pregnancy

Yoga is a natural way to help you find relief from back pain. Lower back pain is common during  the third semester of pregnancy. Let us understand what are the causes of back pain during pregnancy.

1. Hormones

Hormonal changes during the first trimester of pregnancy are a major cause of back pain in expecting mothers. Progesterone helps you relax and loosens the ligaments and tissues to help you during the pregnancy.

Your brain relaxes Relaxin to allow the ligaments between the pelvis to open which provides room for the delivery. These hormones also circulate through the rest of your body and that can cause an imbalance of the joints, which causes lower back pain.

2. Biomechanics

Biomechanics refers to how your body moves, which is made possible by your joints. The extra physical weight you carry during the pregnancy can make your body lose balance.

As a result, the lumbar spine undergoes strain and this causes problems with your body posture. It also puts a lot of unnecessary strain on your lower back. Needless to say, the more your baby grows, the more strain your lower back has to carry.

3. Stress

The third reason responsible for back pain during your pregnancy is stress. Stress can tense your body muscles especially if it is your first child.

Pay attention to the information below as it explains how yoga for back pain can help you deal with these issues.

How Can Yoga Help Me Deal with Back Pain During Pregnancy?

Prenatal yoga has become a popular style of yoga to help you be in a relaxed state during pregnancy. The daily practice opens up the hamstrings and hips. It helps you develop body balance, improve flexibility, and strengthen the muscles.

Let us now check out the three major benefits of practicing yoga during pregnancy.

1. Stronger Abdominal Muscles

Although core strength and pregnancy might sound a bit odd but having stronger abs keeps your back and spine safe as the extra weight gets added with time. There are specific prenatal yoga poses you can practice to develop stronger abdominal muscles and support the additional weight. These poses can include Utkatasana (Chair Pose), or the Kumbhakasana (Plank Pose).

2. Improved Body Posture

As you progress in the pregnancy, the belly would get big and your body posture are the first thing to get compromised due to all the extra weight. It cause the lower back to overarch, slouch the shoulders, and the chest to collapse.

The yoga for back pain helps you sit comfortably, stand, and move with the right body alignment to work with the changes in your body. Practicing the Gomukhasana (Cow Pose) or Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog ) pose can help you develop a great body posture.

3. Stable Joints

Sacroiliac joints, located between the sacrum and hip bone is stabilized by many ligaments that provide a gliding movement. During pregnancy, your body release hormones that causes these ligaments to slack and make the joints less stable.

It is what causes lower back pain in the first place. You can practice yoga asanas like Sucirandhrasana (Eye of the Needle Pose) to resolve this issue.

Conclusion

Yoga offers you relief from many chronic health issues in a natural and healthy way. The  yoga for back pain poses mentioned above are best for practice during pregnancy. These help relieve your body off unnecessary stress, especially on your back.