Yoga Injury - Hip/Leg

Yoga Discussion Structural Yoga Therapy
#1

Dear Mukunda

About 4 months ago, whilst in shoulderstand and getting into padmasana starting with my right leg, there was a loud “crack” sound from around the area of my right hip. There was no immediate pain.

But since then, various visits to the chiropractor and the orthopadedic surgeons have not done much to ease the subsequent pain I have had all this time.

The pain and discomfort initially were in the entire outer side of the right leg and gluteus when doing any forward bends, hand-to-toe (so long as any stretching of the leg is required) as well as padmasana, and a reduced range of motion and sharp pain in my adductor when attempting the side split.

The most recent diagnosis was bursitis of the right hip - I was given a cortisone injection about 3 weeks ago and am due back for a 2nd review next week. It looks like I will be the recipient of a 2nd injection because although I can now go into padmasana without any real issues, my right adductor still hurts - pre-injury range of motion was 150 degrees reduced to 90 degrees due to pain in right adductor. Also, the gluteus still hurts when I do forward bends.

I was also told by my physiotherapist that my sacrum iliac joint is quite stiff - I have been doing the cat pose for that.

X-ray results of spine hip and lower back showed no abnormalities.

I am hoping for some insights and advice from you.

Thank you.

Yours in Light

Shan

#2

The main recommendation for bursitis is to diminish pitta as the source of inflammation. So among the possible considerations are anti pitta diet from any Ayurveda book, and less heating poses – that in general means to not try and stretch but rather focus on strengthening. Especially with muscle injuries strengthen the adductors and abductors in your case to that the bursa has some support for the injured tissues. Shifting your awareness in asanas to feel the tone rather than the stretch can go a long way to help promote healing. More specific in asanas is to do standing poses that are both open hips (triangle and Warrior II) to strengthen abductors and closed hip poses (Warrior II and Side of hip pose – parsvottanasana) that strengthen adductors. Also look into eating more kapha balancing foods especially those that promote the deeper tissue recovery. These are called ojas foods – honey, ghee, almonds in any form, dates, figs.