I’ve been seeing a massage therapist and chiropractor for about two months now because of neck, back, and hip pain. Both feel that my neck muscles need strengthened and my massage therapist suggested I either try a physical therapist or yoga. I realize all of you might be biased, but which would you suggest I try first? Are there good yoga poses to strenghen the neck?
Yoga asana can prove therapeutic, best if you find someone qualified in rehab asana. You may also want to try a joint supplement containing glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Hyaluronic Acid, since so many people have found relief and I’ve not heard of any negative side effects that cannot be reversed when you stop taking it, if it’s not effective after 6 weeks it probably never will be. Careful with the neck so much going on in that area, I’ll also suggest exploring a reputable yoga studio that incorporates all the limbs of yoga.
I suggest you try a physical therapist first.
In that way you can have someone specifically trained and licensed to address only your physical body and its biomechanics.
If you discover that mechanical adjustmets alone do not resolve wht is going on for you, then perhaps consider a well trained (at least 500-hour) therapeutically oriented yoga teacher, and vet them well.
Also please see my reply to your thread on the sacrum. Therapeutic issues (for a yoga therapist) require an intake of information as there is no one-size-fits-all answer and the task at hand is tough enough due to the anonymous nature of the Internet.
Thank you both for your time, I appreciate it. InnerAthlete, you make sense with seeing the PT first. I didn’t look at it that way.
Gordon has given good advise. While there are many knowledgeable yoga teachers out there, there are also many who are not. P.T. will give you the foundation from which to work. You can then bring that with you when you find a good teacher and together you can come up with some poses that may help.
And while you are at your PT session…ASK QUESTIONS! Come armed with a list of questions you have. Share with your PT that you wish to continue your “rehab” with a good yoga teacher. They can then taylor some of the “exercises” (many are yoga poses anyway) to help you transition into a good class.
Good luck to you!
If you are crafty you may find both in the same person. One of my peers in San Diego is a P/T and a 2,000-hour certified teacher, not to mention an all around good egg. So her clients are referred and are covered for the PT by their health plans.