Analysis Of The Wrist In Selected Yoga Positions

PURPOSE: The prevalence of yoga practiced among Americans has increased in the past decade and injuries due to this practice are presenting to physicians at an increasing rate. The wrist is commonly injured with 5.64% of all participants reporting wrist pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate various parameters in the positions of downward dog (DD), chaturanga(CH), and side plank (SP) and modifications to these poses to prevent injury. METHODS: The participants were healthy volunteers (n=43, 10 females, mean age 27 years). Peak pressure (PP), maximum force (MF), load distribution and wrist extension was measured in DD, CH, and SP (regular and modified poses) using a pressure-measuring device (Novel, Inc.). Modification to the DD position consisted placing the wrist on an elevated platform. CH and SP were modified by competing the positions with the knees touching the ground. A two way ANOVA was performed to assess the effect of pose and modification on peak pressure. Interaction effects were assessed first, followed by Bonferroni adjusted post hoc pair-wise comparisons between modified and regular poses. RESULTS: The PP were significantly lowered in the modified CH and SP poses. The PP decreased in the CH pose from 379.4 to 308 kPa and the SP decreased from 483.1 to 401.9 kPa (p<0.001). Modifications did not alter the peak pressure of the DD pose significantly. Similarly, MF was decreased during CH from 290.0 to 244.2 N and SP from 433.0 and 360.1 N (p<. 001). Modifications did not significantly alter the maximum force during DD. Analysis of load distribution mapping revealed no significant. Extension wrist angle increased in the CH (70.3 to 70.7) and SP positions (82.3 and 83.3). Wrist extension decreased in the DD position from 57.5 to 52.0. DISCUSSION: Modified versions of the SP and CH resulted in a significant reduction in the peak pressure and maximum force. Placing the knees on the ground, this has been found to reduce peak force by 15% in previous studies regarding to push up positions potentially helping to explain our study findings. Decreasing wrist angle could also explain why the DD position had a decrease in the same variables as this has been proven in the literature to decrease loads on the wrist. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study may identify poses that contribute to wrist pain and also suggest strategies to alleviate pain by reducing peak pressure and maximum force across the wrist joint.