Yoga therapy as a complement to physiotherapy
Understanding the difference between yoga therapy and physical therapy
Yoga therapy and Physical therapy are two different specialisations. While there is some overlap between the skill sets of both, they each have their own place in the healing process. Both disciplines have many possible specialisations and both are often provided in conjunction with other medical services.
What is a physical therapist?
Physical therapists treat people experiencing pain or functional movement difficulty as a result of injury or illness. They can be a part of preventative care, rehabilitation or ongoing treatment for chronic conditions. They review medical history, notes and referrals from other healthcare professionals. They also diagnose, develop treatment plans and use exercises and hands-on therapy to support clients in reducing pain, increasing functional movement and increasing wellbeing.
Training for physical therapy varies across countries but tends to include a university or college level program of at least 3 years. Further, most countries require physical therapists to be licensed by a licensing body.
What is a yoga therapist?
Yoga therapists are trained to support client wellbeing and work with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual complaints. Yoga therapists will not diagnose clients unless they have the necessary medical training and experience.
Yoga therapists learn to assess and work with muscular imbalances, movement patterns, breathing patterns and lifestyle considerations. In particular looking at how these affect pain, wellbeing and health. Additionally, yoga therapist are trained to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals. They will review medical history, notes and referrals that are available and develop a treatment plan to support clients in increasing wellbeing and managing symptoms.
Treatment may involve movement practices, breathing practices, meditation/mindfulness practices, relaxation practices, education, recommended lifestyle changes and more depending on the training of the yoga therapist.
Yoga therapists attend a minimum of 800+ hrs of specialised training in anatomy, health issues, and therapeutic practices. This training is on top of the minimum of 200hrs required to be certified as a yoga teacher. As has been discussed elsewhere, yoga is not always therapeutic and yoga therapy is not the same as a group yoga class. It is tailored specifically to the client taking their needs, goals, personality and life into account.
How yoga therapy supports physiotherapy
Many doctors, physical therapist, psychotherapist and other care professionals choose to seek out yoga therapists for themselves - to support with stress management, burnout and other concerns. They also often refer clients to yoga therapy, yoga classes or even to integrate yoga therapy into their practice. In studies, yoga therapy has been shown to effectively reduce pain and aid or speed healing of varying conditions. It can reduce stress and inflammation in the body while also providing motivation, emotional support and even a sense of purpose and meaning throughout the healing process. Further, it can increase interoceptive and proprioceptive awareness. These factors contribute to reducing factors that hinder healing and increasing factors that speed it and contribute to overall health and wellbeing.
Yoga therapy can support clients with prevention as well as during or after physical therapy. Depending on the issue at hand, clients may choose to work with both a yoga therapist and a physiotherapist at the same time. This is often the case for long-term treatment plans or cases where a reduction in stress or lifestyle implementation support would be a critical aid to healing. Many clients will start with physical therapy and then continue with a yoga therapist once they complete physical therapy.
Physiotherapy supports yoga therapy by providing clear diagnosis and effective exercises and guidance for the client. The yoga therapist will adapt their work to either include the home practice offered by the physical therapist or to provide something completely different and complementary so as to support and not interfere with the work of the physio.
Yoga therapy can support optimal conditions for the work of the physical therapist by optimising the body, mind and lifestyle factors. During the course of yoga therapy, a client may learn to practice and integrate new movement patterns, helpful breathing patterns, and lifestyle habits that promote health and wellbeing. Further, yoga therapy can support with the integration of necessary movement and exercises into daily life. In this way, yoga therapy can support the ongoing work of physical therapy as well as after.
When the work of physical therapy is over, some clients experience continued chronic discomfort or pain. Many physical therapists refer clients to a yoga therapist at this point. Yoga therapy can offer significant support for clients in continuing their healing process after physical therapy.
Yoga therapy can support with increasing or maintaining gains in active range of motion made during the course of physical therapy. It's also known to reduce depression, blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. In cases where injury was caused by yoga practice in the first place, yoga therapy can support with teaching clients ways to adapt their practice to build optimal strength and flexibility while minimising injuries coming from repetitive movements or over-stretching. More on research about yoga therapy is available in this post.
Conclusion
Have a question or want to talk to a yoga therapist to support you or your clients? Feel free to reach out.
Further resources