Is Bikram Yoga safe for knees after surgery?
Knee surgery for a torn meniscus or total knee replacement sometimes becomes imperative; his rehabilitation takes about seven to eight weeks; by that time any swelling, redness, or pain will have resolved; as soon as you can put your weight on the affected leg without pain, you are ready for Bikram (hot) yoga. It is best to go slow at first, immediately after surgery, if there is any indication of redness, swelling or pain remember to ice it. Also avoid stretching or bending your leg too much. In Bikram yoga, an hour and a half of performing very challenging poses, in a room kept at 105 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity level of forty percent, produces profuse perspiration to rid the body of all toxic waste. It also increases the strength and elasticity in the knees after surgery; and prevent future injuries
Bikram Yoga Rewards After Surgery
- Strengthens the inner and outer quadriceps
- Strong inner, outer, upper and lower muscles support the weak knee
- Increased blood flow and nutrients to the affected knee
Knee protection while doing yoga
After knee surgery you may want to get back to your lifestyle quickly, it is important to do so with extreme caution. Adopting incorrect postures or going beyond the limits can further endanger your knees. To practice Bikram yoga while you recover, keep the following in mind.
- Keep your feet well placed and aligned. Push down through all four corners of your feet for most asanas. If your feet are not in the correct position, your knees will be negatively affected.
- Your knees should be in line with your ankles, without moving over them. This is especially important for lunges and knee bends. The knee should be directed towards the middle toe. As you bend forward with your legs extended from a standing position, remember to lift the arches of your feet.
- Some postures in Bikram yoga require locking the knees, refrain from that after surgery; You can pull the ball joints to strike a pose. If you need to hyperextend your knees for a given pose, do so by keeping your knees slightly bent in most standing positions and tucked forward.
- If your hips aren’t fully open or extended, your knees will have to take extra pressure during most standing poses. You need to open your hips early in a class to avoid putting this stress on your knees.
Bikram yoga practitioners who have undergone knee surgery need to take extra care when performing certain poses. The hero pose, if not done correctly, can pull the ligaments in the knee, while done correctly, it is beneficial in healing the knees. In the triangle pose there is a risk of locking or hyperextending the knees. In the seated forward fold, bend your knees slightly to prevent further knee damage. To practice Child’s Pose, place a blanket between your buttocks and calves to reduce stress on the affected knee. As this branch of yoga places great emphasis on patience, you must remember to be patient and allow plenty of time for your body to fully heal before undergoing a demanding regimen.
