The Physiotherapist’s Perspective: Clinical Benefits of Yoga in Rehabilitation and Pelvic Health by Kathryn Melvin Women's Health APA Physiotherapist
As a physiotherapist, I’ve always believed that movement is medicine. Yoga integrates breath, posture, and mindfulness in a way that complements physiotherapy beautifully. Yoga has increasingly become a valuable adjunct in physiotherapy practice, offering evidence-based benefits across a range of musculoskeletal and pelvic health conditions. It’s integration into rehabilitation is supported by recent research and clinical guidelines, highlighting its role in improving physical function, neuromuscular control, and psychological well-being.
As a physiotherapist I teach yoga because it allows patients to reconnect with their bodies in a safe, empowering way. It’s especially effective for those who feel disconnected due to injury, trauma, or chronic conditions.
Clinical Rationale for Yoga in Physiotherapy
From a physiotherapy standpoint, yoga contributes to:
• Enhanced joint mobility and flexibility through low-impact, controlled movements
• Improved proprioception and balance, particularly in older adults
• Neuromuscular re-education via breath-synchronized movement
• Stress modulation, which can positively influence pain perception and recovery
• Pelvic floor awareness and coordination, essential in managing dysfunctions
Recent studies have demonstrated yoga’s effectiveness in improving outcomes for patients with chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and pelvic floor disorders.
Applications in Common Physiotherapy Conditions
Chronic Low Back Pain
Yoga has shown moderate effectiveness in reducing pain and improving function in individuals with persistent low back pain. Poses such as Cat-Cow, Sphinx, and Child’s Pose promote spinal mobility and core engagement. A Cochrane review (2022) supports yoga as a non-pharmacologic intervention for chronic low back pain.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Yoga offers low-impact strengthening and mobility for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Poses like Warrior II and Chair Pose activate key muscle groups to strengthen the lower body and reduce joint pain/ symptoms. Liu et al. (2021) found that yoga significantly improved pain and function in older adults with knee OA.
Fibromyalgia
Yoga’s emphasis on breath and mindfulness helps modulate central sensitisation and reduce fatigue. Restorative sequences have been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce symptom burden. EULAR guidelines (2017) recommend yoga as part of a multimodal approach to fibromyalgia management.
Pelvic Health and Yoga
Yoga can play a role in pelvic health physiotherapy, particularly in addressing stress incontinence, pelvic pain, and hypertonicity. Breath-coordinated movement enhances pelvic floor coordination, while specific poses promote relaxation and awareness.
Evidence-Based Insights
• A randomised controlled trial by Huang et al. (2021) demonstrated that yoga significantly reduced stress incontinence episodes in women over 40.
• Sullivan et al. (2020) highlighted the neurophysiological mechanisms by which yoga supports pelvic floor function, particularly in hypertonic presentations.
• Poses such as Supta Baddha Konasana, Malasana, and Child’s Pose are commonly used to facilitate pelvic floor relaxation.
Yoga also supports autonomic regulation, which is essential for patients with vaginismus, endometriosis, or trauma-related pelvic dysfunctions. Incorporating yoga into physiotherapy practice is not merely a trend—it reflects a growing recognition of the interconnectedness between physical function, mental well-being, and long-term recovery. With mounting evidence supporting its role in managing musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, and pelvic health dysfunctions, yoga offers physiotherapists a versatile, patient-centred approach to care. When applied thoughtfully and backed by clinical reasoning, it empowers individuals to move with greater awareness, restore confidence in their bodies, and engage actively in their rehabilitation journey.
References
• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (2022). Yoga treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain. [online] Available at: https://www.cochranelibrary.com
• EULAR. (2017). EULAR recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Annals ofthe Rheumatic Diseases, 76(12), pp.1952–1959.
• Huang, A.J., Phillips, K., Schembri, M., et al. (2021). Effect of yoga on urinary incontinence in women: A randomized controlled trial. Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery,27(1), pp.45–51.
• Liu, H., Wang, X., Zhang, Y., et al. (2021). Effectiveness of yoga in the treatment of kneeosteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Research,39(6), pp.1234–1242.
• Sullivan, M.B., Erb, M., Schmalzl, L., et al. (2020). Yoga therapy and pelvic floordysfunction: A neurophysiological perspective. International Urogynecology Journal, 31(5),pp.1011–1018.