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Yoga and Arthritis
How can Yoga help?
Yoga poses provide relief to stiff and damaged joints. Yoga's controlled
movements and gentle pressures reach deep into troubled joints.
In addition, the controlled stretches in conjunction with deep
breathing exercises, relax and release the muscles that have seized
up around the joints to protect them.
If you are looking for arthritis relief or prevention, look no
further than yoga.
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What is Arthritis?
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| Arthritis affects
the joints—the areas in the body where two or more bones meet.
In addition, there are several different parts of the joint
that may be affected by arthritis, such as, cartilage, synovium,
tendons, and muscles. The neighboring ends of bones that form
the joints are covered by a soft, protective material called
cartilage that cushions the bones and keeps them from rubbing
together. The joint is also enclosed in a capsule and lined
with a tissue called synovium. The synovium releases a slippery
fluid that lubricates the joints and helps them to move freely.
Finally, tendons and muscles can contribute strong support to
the structure of the joint and are responsible for moving it.
When a person has arthritis, each of these areas can be affected
in some very specific ways. Perhaps even less well-known is
the fact that arthritis can also affect other parts of the body
including the skin, eyes, internal organs, and mouth. |
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Main Types of Arthritus
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a specific type of the arthritis
that causes inflammation of the joints due to abnormalities
in the body's own defense system against infection, the immune
system.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting
both men and women as they grow older. Because the disease
causes pain and stiffness as bones and cartilage progressively
break down, osteoarthritis is also sometimes called "degenerative
arthritis."
Fibromyalgia
Usually affecting women, fibromyalgia is a condition that
affects the muscles at their attachments to bones. Although
the condition is often characterized by painful, tender points
in areas of the body that are more susceptible to pain, the
disease does not do actual damage to muscles or joints.
Osteoporosis Affecting approximately 25 million Americans
and about 80% women, osteoporosis is a disease that causes
bones to lose their solid mass and become brittle. This deterioration
in the bone can lead to consequences on the body including
fractures as well as loss of height and a rounding of the
shoulders.
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