What is the difference between aerial yoga and regular yoga? Rehabilitation doctor: Be careful of sports injuries in these 4 parts

Aerial yoga has been very popular in offices recently. Xiaowen, who doesn't usually exercise, has also followed the trend and joined the aerial yoga craze. After starting aerial yoga, Xiaowen did feel her limbs stretched and her muscle strength improved. However, recently, when she was pulling the cloth, she often felt sore in her shoulders and neck. She even felt uncomfortable when her shoulders were pressed when she went home to sleep. Xiaowen remembered that her aerial yoga teacher told her that when she first started learning, she developed shoulder tendinitis due to improper application of force. So Xiaowen decided to go to the rehabilitation department to have a thorough examination of her shoulders and neck.

(Photo provided by Dr. Chen Yuren)

What is the difference between aerial yoga and regular yoga?

Aerial yoga, also known as anti-gravity yoga, uses a hanging cloth that can bear the body's weight to support the body, and combines it with the natural gravity of the earth's gravity to perform movements such as hanging upside down and stretching to train the body's core stability and coordination.

Yoga has been popular for a long time, but many people have been injured as a result. A German study pointed out that one out of every five people who practice yoga has suffered an acute injury, and one out of every ten people who practice yoga has suffered a chronic injury. The main cause of sports injuries is musculoskeletal injuries. However, more than three-quarters of people will recover completely, and yoga is relatively safe compared to other types of sports.

Compared to traditional yoga, aerial yoga, with the support of hanging cloth, can perform some more difficult postures, such as handstand, which can reduce the pressure on the cervical spine and reduce the chance of sports injuries. In addition, aerial yoga provides more muscle strength and core training. With the hanging cloth supporting gravity, women before and after childbirth can engage in modified aerial yoga movements under the guidance of experienced teachers. It should be reminded that the risk of exercise is relatively high in the first three months of pregnancy because the fetus is still unstable; in the first three months of delivery, due to rapid weight gain, attention should be paid to the risk of falling; if there is a cesarean section or episiotomy wound after delivery, attention should be paid to the wound healing condition and the intensity of exercise should be adjusted. It is recommended to consult a doctor whether it is suitable for exercise.

Common Aerial Yoga Injuries

Although aerial yoga has a hanging cloth to support and disperse gravity, improper force application or unfamiliarity with the movements may still cause sports injuries. Common sports injuries include:

Shoulders: The movement of stretching your hands backward and pulling your body up may injure the shoulder rotator muscles and biceps.

Neck: Inversion and excessive tilt of the head back may injure the muscles of the back of the neck and occipital region

Back: If the core stability is not enough, stretching on the hanging cloth may cause strain on the back muscles and ligaments

Hip: When extending the hip and supporting the body weight on the hanging cloth, improper force angle may injure the muscles around the hip and even the hip labrum.

What to do if you suspect a sports injury?

If you are concerned about sports injuries, it is recommended that you go to the rehabilitation department for outpatient evaluation. If soft tissue injuries such as muscles, tendons and ligaments are suspected, the doctor will first perform a musculoskeletal ultrasound examination and provide rehabilitation treatment or ultrasound-guided injection treatment depending on the situation. After recovery, be sure to discuss the problem with your teacher and doctor, whether it is a problem of correct movement or lack of muscle strength or coordination.

The following are some exercises you can do at home to strengthen your muscles and stretch your body:

(Photo provided by Dr. Chen Yuren)

(Photo provided by Dr. Chen Yuren)

(Photo provided by Dr. Chen Yuren)

(Photo provided by Dr. Chen Yuren)

(Photo provided by Dr. Chen Yuren)

Conclusion:

Aerial yoga is a great exercise that can improve muscle strength, body flexibility and coordination, and it can also be fun and increase motivation for exercise. Although aerial yoga is safe compared to many sports, it also carries the risk of sports injuries. If you are worried about sports injuries, it is recommended that you see a doctor for evaluation so that you can happily enjoy the beauty of exercise.