Open-hip standing poses offer a range of benefits for total hip replacement.
Turns out that all the beautiful standing poses we do in yoga not only promote total hip replacement health and safety, they also build brain health.
What studies reveal about strength and brain health
Recent studies have shown that leg strength directly correlates with brain health and reduces the chances of cognitive decline as we age. What scientists have learned is that the process of building leg strength sends signals to the brain that stimulate the production of neural cells. This bodes well on many levels. A modest strengthening yoga practice with an emphasis on standing poses not only supports your shiny new hips but also keeps your brain in good working order.
Keeping leg muscles and the muscles around the hip joint strong has many benefits:
- Strong leg muscles support a positive surgery outcome.
- Strong leg muscles aid in the healing process.
- Strong leg muscles stabilize the hip joint.
- And now we know, strong leg muscles promote brain health!
It is easy to become sedentary as we are go through the process of total hip replacement; pain and discomfort stifles our motivation to move. But this is the time when movement and especially maintaining strength is so important.
You do not have to go to extremes with your exercise. Standing yoga poses (with modifications where appropriate) maintain and build leg strength. Just a few poses between your regular activities can make a difference. Stand in Chair Pose for a minute while doing dishes at your sink. Strike a Warrior Pose while watering your deck plants. Do a Tree Pose against a tree. Or practice all of them for 15 minutes on your yoga mat.
Modify as you go along and enjoy the journey!
Examples of yoga standing poses:
Warrior II/ Virabhadrasana II
Triangle Pose / Trikonansana
Side Angle Pose / Parsvakonasana
Half Moon Pose / Ardha Chandrasana
Here’s to Healthy and Happy Hips!
Member Videos: Standing Poses, Feet, Legs, Pelvis Position in Open-hip Poses, Warrior II / Virabhadrasana II, Triangle Pose / Trikonasana, Half Moon Pose / Ardha Chandrasana
Non-Member Preview: Yoga Basics, Standing Poses
Free video: Yoga while healing from Total Hip Replacement Surgery: A safe post-op asana practice
Become a member of Yoga for Hip Replacement here
Articles and Studies:
“Leg exercise is critical to brain and nervous system health”
“Good brain health depends on using your legs”
Blog – “Healing from Total Hip Replacement and how yoga can help”
Blog – “Listen to Your Hands”
Blog – “Which Poses are Safe Following THR”