What is Muscular Dystrophy?
Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is severe weakness where the muscles are not capable to function properly. It is a health crisis which involves progressive degeneration of the muscular tissue. Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of genetic neuromuscular disorders that weakens the body muscles.
Muscular dystrophy (MD) can cause major physical problems as they lead to a weakening of the muscles in the body. There are some treatments to slow the progression, but there are currently no cures. Muscular dystrophy can come into view in infancy up to teen age or middle age or later, and its types and severity are determined in the part by the time/age at which it arise.
Several types of muscular dystrophy (MD) affects only male; some people with MD enjoy a normal life period with kind symptoms that develops very slowly; others experience fast and severe muscle loss or weakness.
Nine main type of Muscular Dystrophy
Myotonic
Duchenne
Becker
Limb-girdle
Facioscapulohumeral
Congenital
Oculopharyngeal
Distal
Emery-Dreyfus
How to prevent Muscular Dystrophy
However, there are lots of ways to minimize the contractures of muscles, physical disability, distress and pain which muscular dystrophy (MD) can bring. Complementary therapies like yoga & meditation can play vital role in its treatment.
There is no treatment or cure available for any form of muscular dystrophy; however some medicines, ayurvedic remedies and Yoga therapies can slow the course and intensity of the disease. Muscular dystrophy is a nonflexible muscle disorder and may have genetic connection that makes it bad to worse. But, with proper Ayurvedic Panchakarma and Internal medications along with Yoga asanas and Pranayama may make wonders.
There is no oral remedy that can solve this problem all alone. Patient must undergo the combination therapy of internal medication as well as external therapies like Yoga & Meditation. Also Ayurvedic Panchakarma/ Ayurvedic/herbal oil massages are very good option to control progression of muscular dystrophy.
There is no oral remedy that can solve this problem all alone. Patient must undergo the combination therapy of internal medication as well as external therapies like Yoga & Meditation. Also Ayurvedic Panchakarma/ Ayurvedic/herbal oil massages are very good option to control progression of muscular dystrophy.
Yoga therapy for Muscular Dystrophy
Yoga & meditation is useful alternative therapy, with zero side effects, that can control and reduce progression of this (muscular dystrophy) disease up to certain extent.
(All forms of Muscular dystrophy)
Useful Yogasanas include
Bhujangasana (see video)
Gomukhasana (see video)
Padhastasana (see video)
Pawanmuktasana (see video)
Parvatasana Mountain pose (see video)
Parvatasana Lotus pose (see video)
Paschimottanasana (see video)
Padmasana (see video)
Virbhadrasana (see video)
Virasana (see video)
Useful Pranayama
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (see video)
Bhramari Pranayama (see video)
Anuloma - Vilom Pranayama (see video)
Useful Meditation
Nada Anusadhana
OM meditation
1. Yoga therapy & ayurvedic panchkarma/ ayurvedic oil massages can minimize abnormal or painful situation of the joints and may prevent or postponement curvature of the spine. Respiratory care, deep/long breathing and coughing techniques & workouts are frequently recommended in yoga therapy.
2. Yoga therapy & ayurvedic oil massages slows down muscle destruction. Gentle yoga asanas and breathing exercises strengthen the patient’s muscles, elongates the spine and promotes good Neuro-muscular fitness. Yoga has also shown to improve muscular dystrophy patient’s digestion and aid the elimination of toxins and aid circulation.
3. Yoga can help ease the conditions of muscular dystrophy and up to a great extent and can improve the quality of life. Muscular dystrophy yoga includes a series of gentle and simple movements in combination with deep breathing techniques to improve muscle tone and reduce pain.
4. Yoga aims at rehabilitating and reinforcing a balance between the body, mind, and soul. Yoga is a complementary practice alongside Ayurveda, homeopathic, allopathic medicines.
5. In muscular dystrophy muscle weakness & continuous loss of muscles makes patient weak and exhausted. Doing regular exercise is almost impossible, it is difficult and causes even more pain. Yoga therapy however doesn’t cost you physical energy, but gives you mental and physical stability and fresh flow of energy.
6. Yoga has a significant role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases like Muscular Dystrophy (MD) that includes hypertension, repetition of heart attacks and coronary heart diseases. Yoga therapy directly influences the hypothalamus (the part of our brain that controls endocrine movements, and helps to prevent heart attacks which is the major threat to muscular dystrophy patients.
7. Through gentle movements, breathing practices & meditation, the muscles are moved, toned and worked. The long/deep breathing techniques helps patient breathe more fresh oxygen as compared to usual low breathing. As fresh and more oxygen is infused into our body, a fresh supply of nutrients is supplied to all body organs and tissues. It improves proper blood circulation and strengthens the weakening muscles of the body. Along with maximum intake of oxygen, the body is also able to push out plenty amounts of toxins using breathing techniques of yoga for muscular dystrophy. Yoga is a cure for many diseases - diabetes, obesity and psychiatric illnesses, blood pressure, sleep disorder, asthma, back pain, waist pain, neck pain etc.
A complete yoga therapy involves...
Exercises (asanas), breath control (pranayama), sleep control (yoga Nidra) and mind control (meditation) these are the tenets for cardiac health.
That is why cardiologists universally, recommends yoga to MD patients. The healing benefit of yoga improves health of the heart, lowers blood pressure, decreases stress, improves the immune system and develops cognitive ability.
Yoga practices & meditation also controls the mental and emotional damage caused by the all kinds of diseases & disorders. Yoga helps individuals discover the inner strength to fight off depression and anxiety that characterize debilitating illnesses. Yoga & meditations enables a person to think positively.
Why yoga for Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy mostly attacks patient’s heart & other important body organs and yoga may...
1. Reduce high blood pressure
2. Improves physical balance in MD
3. Reduces falls in Muscular Dystrophy
4. Relieve in arthritis
5. Improves breathing- people with constant disruptive pulmonary/lungs disease
6. Improve symptoms of heart failure
7. Ease palpitations
8. Enhance cardiac rehabilitation
9. Lowers cardiovascular risk factors such as blood sugar, cholesterol levels and stress hormones
Diet Recommendations for Muscular Dystrophy
1. Wholesome diet supplemented with vitamins, amino acids, and herbs will help manage or reduce the debilitating muscular dystrophy symptoms.
2. Avoid refined foods, including white bread, pasta, and sugar.
3. Avoid or reduce use of red meat and trans fatty acids
4. Don't eat cakes, cookies, crackers, French fries, onion rings, and other processed foods.
5. Refrain from stimulants like coffee, alcohol, and tobacco.
6. Include in your diet good sources of protein like cold-water fish, lean meats, and beans.
7. Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich foods including fruit (blueberries, cherries, tomatoes) and dark green vegetables (kale, collard greens, spinach, and green peppers).
8. Cook with unsaturated oils (canola and olive oil)
9. Whole grains and dried fruit are other good sources of fiber around which you should plan your meals.
Last but not least
Yoga connects the mind, body, and spirit through gentle body poses, controlled breathing, and meditation. The practice of yoga has numerous health benefits linked with it, from reducing blood pressure to improving pain tolerance.
