Yoga Heals Bone Fractures

Yoga Helps Heal Bone Fractures

Published on May 10, 2011

Indian researchers recently published a randomized controlled trial showing that a yoga-based program reduced the healing time of extra-articular (situated or occurring outside a joint) fractures. While improved fracture healing may not come to mind as one of yoga’s most immediately obvious benefits, it is consistent with preliminary evidence on the beneficial effects that yoga and other mind-body practices appear to have on the immune system and inflammatory processes.

Researchers Oswal, Nagarathna, Ebnezar, and Ramaro Nagendra (2011) report that fracture healing is a considerable problem in the US as well as India, with an estimated 62 million occurring in the US annually, of which 5-10% experience delayed or failed healing. Even fractures healing at a normal rate take months to heal, during which time socioeconomic and personal costs, as well as patient quality of life, suffer considerably.

Thirty fracture patients with extra-articular fractures were randomly assigned to a yoga or control group. Both groups received conventional care for the fractures, but the yoga group received adjunctive instruction in YPET (yogic prana energization technique), a protocol consisting of “breath regulation, chanting, and visualization, which according to yogic science revitalizes the tissues by activating the subtle energies (prana) within the body.”  Yoga subjects were taught the YPET technique for one week before being given audiotapes and instructed to practice the technique on their own for thirty minutes twice daily over a 2-week period.

Both groups improved considerably, but reductions in pain and tenderness were significantly better in the yoga compared to the control group. The swelling was reduced in the YPET group 93% compared to 69.4% in controls, but this finding was not statistically significant. Perhaps most intriguingly, the increase in fracture line density and united cortices (markers of improved fracture wound healing) were significantly improved in the yoga compared to control group, leading the researchers to conclude that “add-on yoga-based YPET accelerates fracture healing.”

Interestingly, the “yoga” did not include yoga asana (physical postures), which has become synonymous with yoga and most yoga research in the West. This study is a good reminder of the diversity of yoga and how these nonphysical practices can strongly affect the physical body.

Have you experienced improved healing while practicing pranayama, chanting or meditation?

Share with

Friends

Our Latest

Yoga Articles
  • Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

    10 Tips for Harnessing the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

  • Best Time to Meditate

    Finding the Best Time to Meditate: Tips and Advice on When to Sit

  • Purusharthas

    Purusharthas: The Four Goals of Life

  • Trimurti

    Trimurti: The Hindu Trinity of Brahma Vishnu Shiva

  • Brahman

    Brahman: Definition, Meaning, and Philosophy

  • Yoga Nidra

    Yoga Nidra: Meaning, Benefits, Videos and Tips

  • Living Like a Yogi

    17 Rules for Living Like a Yogi

  • heart opening yoga poses

    The Best 16 Heart Opening Yoga Poses

Remove Ads with a

Premium Membership

Viewing ads supports YogaBasics, which allows us to continue bringing you quality yoga content. Sign up for a premium membership to remove all ads and enjoy uninterrupted access to the best yoga resources on the web.

Explore More

Yoga TipsAdviceArticlesPracticesBasicsTechniques

  • Yoga for exercise

    Is Yoga Enough for Your Exercise and Fitness Needs?

  • Five Vayus

    The Five Vayus

  • Vinyasa Yoga Injury

    How to Avoid Common Vinyasa Yoga Injuries

  • Common Yoga Symbols

    The Meaning and Use of Common Yoga Symbols

  • yoga skin care tips

    7 Essential Skin Care Tips Every Yogi Should Know

  • safety in sun salutations

    Keeping Your Shoulders Safe in Sun Salutations

  • Brahma Muhurta

    Brahma Muhurta: Definition, Benefits and Tips

  • Yoga Weight Loss Plan

    7 Ways To Add Yoga To Your Weight Loss Plan

  • Yoga Vitamins

    The Best Yoga Vitamins for Optimum Flexibility

6 responses to “Yoga Helps Heal Bone Fractures”

  1. runinl8x Avatar
    runinl8x

    Since I am still in a half cast due to come off July 1st after breking the 5th metacarpal bone in my right hand, I am going to give this a serious try.

  2. Krishankant Avatar
    Krishankant

    Hello.. My name is krishankant. Sir i am very drsperate about my right leg’s ligament fracture. I was playing football that time it happened to me. It was about 2 year ago. At that time i didn’t imagined that it was a fracture but later on i come to know it was a fracture a doctor told me 2 months after the fracture. Kindly help me. I want to play football as earlier. I am a national level football player 2 times.

    1. Timothy Burgin Avatar
      Timothy Burgin

      Please consult an experienced physical therapist or yoga therapist.

  3. dnyanesh parab Avatar
    dnyanesh parab

    Sir my name is dnyanesh. i had take months rest after fracture but i dont walk properly and also run. what type of yoga i will do for recovery? thanking u

  4. Verlie Johnson Avatar
    Verlie Johnson

    Hello
    M left fema bones was not a clean break had to have surgery to put back together. Wrist broken hip 2 chips broken knee surgery plate from thigh wire wrap around ankle. have a limp oct 23 2016 will be year’ A friend recommended yoga I want to feel normal again. I’m not depressed . Would like to know if it will help and what program.

    1. Timothy Burgin Avatar
      Timothy Burgin

      We cannot give you any medical advise so please consult an MD or PT.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tosca Park Avatar
About the author
Tosca Park, a 200-hour Kripalu Yoga instructor and 500-hour Integrative Yoga Therapist, is a doctoral student in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Connecticut, where she conducts research on yoga, mindfulness, and health with her mentor, Dr. Crystal Park, and collaborators. Prior to UConn Tosca spent five years as a research intern and project manager with Kripalu’s Institute for Extraordinary Living, an organization devoted to the scientific study of yoga-based curricula. She holds bachelor’s degrees from Reed College and SUNY Empire State College in history and health psychology, respectively, and has more than 2,000 hours of training in yoga, Ayurveda, and the mind-body connection.
Yoga Basics