You must be hearing about joints for the umpteenth time. They are associated with several pain factors and arthritis. You must have heard about them once in a while. So, basically joints are nothing but the area, where two bones join. It can also be described as the part, that leads to the movement of the limbs. When you are into fitness modalities, like yoga, you will often hear your trainer referring to them. So, how many types of joints are there in the human body? We say, probably 250-350. No one is actually certain about that yet.
But what are they? You will come to know about them today.
More About Different Types of Joints
There are three varieties of joints in the human body. They are movable ones, slightly movable ones and immovable ones. The movable joints are also referred to as synovial joints. There is a fluid in between such joints, which is called synovial fluid. The knee joint and the shoulder joint are two of the main examples.
Then there comes the slightly movable ones, also called cartilaginous joints. The bones are held tightly, with cartilages in between. So, the range of motion is extremely less. You can count on the spine for that.
Lastly comes the immovable joints, that you can find in the skull bones. You cannot move them, one bit.
However, that is not all where it stops. The human body is a fascinating work of God. So, you can expect to find details. Joints are mostly taught as a part of the yoga classes. It is an irreplaceable part of the anatomy syllabus. There are at least six different types of movable joints.
- The ball and socket joint are one that you may know of or identify more easily. The shoulder joint and the hip joint are the two ball and socket joints, that we all have.
- Then there is the hinge joint, which you will find in the knee and the elbow. Here the range of motion is limited, just like a door.
- Pivot Joint is another joint that you should know of. They are found in the ulna and the radius bones and also in the first and second vertebra.
- Then comes the gliding joint which is found in the wrist. Here the smooth bone surfaces simply slide over one another.
- Saddle Joint is another type of join, which seems to be an important part of the human structure. It is present just at the base of the thumb.
- Condyloid joint comes last and is present in the finger joints and the jaws.
Joints occupy an important position in the realm of yoga learning. You use the joints quite a lot in your yoga classes. If you happen to exert excess pressure on the joints, they may give away. Some of the joints, which are used often while performing yoga are the ankle joints, toe joints, knee joints, hip joints, spine, shoulder joints, elbow and writs joints. Yoga and joints are dependent on one another. Moreover, each one facilitates the others movement.
So, let us find out yoga poses that can actually help your alleviate problems and also keep them in good condition.
How Does Yoga Affect The Joints?
As a part of the yoga classes, you will be told time and again, that joint health and postures are reliant on one another. If you have supple joints, then performing the poses will seem to be easy. On the other hand, if you do yoga regularly, the joints will get a good stretch. There are a lot of benefits that the joints ought to get, from practicing yoga on a daily basis. The blood circulation gets better, and you can also recover from injuries faster. There are certain yoga poses that particularly affect the joints in a positive manner.
Bridge Pose – This is one of the poses, which will help your joint health immensely. You have to lie on the yoga mat, followed by bending the legs at the knees. The soles of the feet should be touching the ground. You need to lift your upper body from the ground, and create a space between the back and the ground. The head, shoulders, and neck should be in touch with the ground. The arms should be by your side, palms down. The bridge posture tends to strengthen the knee joints and also alleviates the symptoms of osteoporosis.
Warrior Pose – It is yet another yoga pose, which will help your joints. There are several variations of this pose, like 1,2 and 3. The pose requires the yogi to stand with the legs wide apart, taking the stance of a warrior. The knees of one of the legs will be bent and the shoulders have to be pulled back. The pose helps to increase balance while strengthening the knee joints as well.
Forward Fold Pose – All kinds of forward fold postures are great for joint health in the human body. If you suffer from stiff muscles, these will be the ideal one for you. You need to stand up straight and then fold from the hip joint. You have to roll your spine forward and make sure that your head is hanging quite low, while face-to-face with the shins. The knee joints also get a huge boost in this posture.
Plank Pose – The plank pose is yet another yogic form, that can aid your joint health. It is an excellent yoga form for all-around fitness. Moreover, it additionally provides more strength to the wrists, legs and the arms.
Bound Angle Pose – It is a cooling form, but great for joint health. It benefits your hip joint. The pose also opens up the knee joints.
These are a few yoga forms that you can learn under all yoga styles, like Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga. You will get the maximum benefit from the poses, and will likely keep the synovial fluid moving for a long time. Start practicing yoga now, for supple joints.
