Extreme Joint Motions

Yoga is an example of an activity that may use extreme joint ranges and that you must modify to avoid stressing your joints. Yoga is an excellent activity that is often used for flexibility; however, I believe that some of the movements put you at risk for further joint damage. An example is the "plough" position, illustrated in figure 5.17. This position puts the neck in extreme flexion, which can stress joints that are already at risk because of your arthritis. It would be impossible to identify every position you should avoid, especially as it depends on your individual joint involvement. You need to decide whether a movement is extreme and whether you can modify it or should avoid it altogether.

Figure 5.17 The plough position