Stretching

[XoChelsey03Xo]

Hi everyone. I just recentely joined the boards. Last Wed I was diagnosed with IC. Although, I've had it for many many years. My question is this. My mom said somewhere that stretching helps calm IC down? Does anyone know if this is true or not? I can remember when I was in junior high and high school going to the clinic and lay down and stretching my stomach out. Within about 30min. I would be feeling much better. I was thinking about taking yoga or something like it. Let me know what you all think. Thanks Chelsey

[Dixiefireball]

:hi: and :welcome: to the ICN family i believe you can find many of your answer at www.ic-network.com/handbook.
we are all diff. that might help you but i know when i try it cause me more pain.
does your mom have IC too? i believe my mother did. is the reason i'm asking.
we are very glad to have you with us and please keep us updated on how you are we are here for you.
sending you hug and prayers Rhonda

[vm]

Yoga can be very helpful to people with IC. There is a video in the ICN Shop that gives some yoga stretches that may help IC patients. :)

[Sarojini]

Yes, gentle stretching can be very helpful to some IC patients. Kim is right; there's an excellent yoga video in the ICN Shop (http://www.ic-network.com/shop) called "Hatha Yoga for People With Interstitial Cystitis" and it is nice and gentle and soothing... my husband and I bought it after my urologist recommended it and sometimes he does the exercises with me to keep me company. :) You can also join a yoga class but make sure you explain your condition to the instructor beforehand so he/she understands if you don't want to try real strenuous poses right away.

In addition, I do pelvic physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction (a condition where the muscles of the pelvis don't work right) and that helps my symptoms too.

So, yes, stretching can help... :)

[Katrina]

Do be careful though.....Some stretching can hurt so if you find it painful stop! Do only what is comfortable.

[kadi]

Yes, I take "gentle" yoga classes 3-4 times a week and it does help me. I go to a local yoga studio where the classes are much smaller than the ones at gyms & community centers. That way I can get more personal attention & modifications if I can't do something.

I avoid certain poses - especially "plank" pose & certain backbends which put stress on the lower abs. The video is a good way to find "safe" poses. I also talked before class with each of my instructors & they never push me to do anything. I told them it had been a year without exercise & explained what IC is, that my doctor had cleared me for exercise, but no emphasis on lower abs & no pelvic floor work. If something bothers me, I just stop. (Which is good yoga practice anyhow)

Enjoy!