Yoga & Knee Rplacements

STRETCH AT YOUR RISK


Yoga can tear your knee joints: Docs




New Delhi:If you are performing yoga on a regular basis, here is a word of caution from orthopaedic surgeons. Health studies show that certain exercises can cause wear and tear of bone joints forcing people to undergo surgeries.
“Studies have shown that deep knee bends can lead to wear and tear of the knee joints ultimately calling for a knee replacement surgery,” Dr Ashok Rajgopal, chairman of the Bone and Joint Institute in Medanta-The Medicity, said.
“Many yoga gurus have undergone knee replacement surgeries with us because of this excess wear and tear,” he said. Each time a person conducts deep knee bends he is actually dislocating the joints that puts pressure on them, the doctor explained. “This is witnessed among yogic gurus while doing vajrasana.”
Even patients who have opted for total knee replacement have complained of difficulty in walking or bending the knee post surgery. So experts have now come up with ‘customized knee joint replacement’ that promises to ease all discomfort associated with it.
“The standard implant used earlier would not replicate the original bone that existed before surgery. Ultimately, the alignment of the hip, knee and the ankle necessary for comfortable walking does not happen,” Dr Naresh Trehan said.
“Customized knee joint is a success because it is a carbon copy or the identical reproduction of the original joint. It is of exact size, shape and fits into the position of the lost joint bones. This gives good alignment and there are no post-surgery complaints,” the Medanta chairman and managing director said.

AGENCIES :The Times of India Thursday 23rd December 2010