Ep 34: Injuries associated w/ More Basic Anatomy Terms! Pt 2

This is part 2 of Injuries Associated with More Basic Anatomy Terms that I introduced you to in episode 32, titled More Anatomy Terms You Should Know. In the last episode (number 33) we went over injuries and conditions in your bones, bony landmarks, retinaculum, arteries & veins and it started to get a little long.

Therefore, I decided not to overwhelm you and pause and make a part two. In this episode, we'll continue and cover bursa, lymph, nodes, and nerves. I will explain more about what types of injuries and or conditions can occur in the bursa, lymph nodes and nerves (including sciatica and how there are multiple treatments for healing beyond pigeon and figure 4  stretches, and WHY).

So, if you want to get your journal, go do it now!

Yoga for Injury Management: 8-week Mentorship
https://www.enhanced-body.com/yoga-for-injury-management

Transcript

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This is part two of injuries associated with more basic terms that I introduced you to in episode 32, titled more anatomy terms you should know. In the last episode, number 33, we went over injuries and conditions in your bones. Bony landmarks, retina Nackey alum. Some arteries and veins and it started to get a little long. So I decided not to overwhelm you and just pause and make a part two. In this episode, we'll continue and cover bursa, lymph, nodes, and nerves. I will explain more about what types of injuries and or conditions can occur in the bursa, lymph nodes and nerves. So, if you want to get your journal, go do it now. Welcome to the Essential Conversations for Yoga Teachers podcast with me. I'm Monica Bright, and I've been teaching yoga and running my yoga business for over a decade. This is the podcast for you if you're a yoga teacher, you're looking for support, you love to be in conversation, and you're a lifelong student. In this podcast, I'll share with you My life as a yoga teacher, the lessons I've learned, my process for building my business, and helpful ideas, tools, strategies, and systems I use and you can use so that your business thrives. We'll cover a diverse range of topics that will help you whether you're just starting out or you've got years under your belt and you want to dive deep and set yourself up for success. I'm so glad you're here. Listen, I don't take myself too seriously, so expect to hear some laughs along the way. Now, let's do this together. Welcome back to the podcast. I am still adjusting to time zones in the us. So I'm not drinking coffee anymore at 3:00 AM. It seems like. Everyone I know has been spending some time in Europe this summer, and I love that whether it's Europe or somewhere closer to home, even a staycation. I hope you're connecting to and enjoying life right now. It seems so sweet to me. And I'm just excited to wake up every morning and experience each new day. If you haven't listened to the previous episode yet, number 33, you should, this is a part two of that episode where I'll continue to explain injuries and conditions. Regarding more anatomy terms you should know. If you want to refresh her on the terms, go back to episode 32. That's the episode where I explain each term. So you have a solid foundation to start from. this is part two of injuries associated with more basic terms that I introduced you to in episode 32, titled more anatomy terms you should know. In the last episode, number 33, we went over injuries and conditions in your bones, bony landmarks, retina, Nackey, alum, arteries, and veins, and it started to get a little long. So I decided not to overwhelm you and just pause and make a part two. In this episode, we'll continue to cover bursa, lymph, nodes, and nerves. I'll explain more about what types of injuries and or conditions can occur. In the bursa lymph nodes and nerves. So if you want to go get your journal, go do it now. Let's start with. Bursa. What is the bursa? A bursa is a small fluid filled SAC that acts as a cushion between the bones and soft tissues, such as skin, muscles, and tendons around joints. There are over 150 bursa in the human body and they help reduce friction allowing smooth and pain-free movement. Of your joints. Could you imagine for a moment, just one bone against another bone with no kind of fluid filled SAC or cushioning. Between the two and moving your joints. Uh, it probably would not feel the greatest. Common injuries to the bursa include bursitis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa. It is the most common bursa injury And can occur in any bursa, but frequently affects the shoulder. Elbow, hip and knee. The causes are from repetitive motion activities that involve repetitive movements or pressure on the joints, such as throwing a baseball lifting objects or kneeling. Think about as it relates to yoga repeated Chaturangas. And how they might affect her bursa, that repetitive movement again and again. The next is trauma, a direct blow to a joint can cause the bursa to become inflamed. There's infection. So bacterial infection. Septic bursitis is what it's called and it can occur if bacteria into the bursa. Through a cut or a wound. Some underlying conditions include rheumatoid arthritis. Gout. Which your girl had a few? Well, not a few, uh, many years ago. Um, and that was painful. And other inflammatory conditions can contribute to bursitis. Well, bursitis is the most well-known bursa related injury. There are other conditions and injuries involving bursa. Here are five examples. One is a bursal cyst. It's a fluid-filled sack that develops within or adjacent to a bursa. These cysts are often filled with synovial fluid and can occur due to chronic bursitis. Or other inflammatory conditions. Number two, like I mentioned before, septic bursitis is an infection of the bursa typically caused by bacteria. This condition is more serious than noninfectious bursitis and requires prompt, medical attention and treatment. This bacterial infection into the bursa through a cut scrape or puncture wound. Number three, him or a jig. Bursitis is bleeding into a bursa which can occur due to trauma or underlying bleeding disorders, it's caused by direct trauma to the bursa, such as a hard fall or blow, or in patients with conditions like hemophilia. Number four calcific. Bursitis is the formation of calcium deposits within the bursa often associated with chronic inflammation, chronic bursitis or tendonitis, which can lead to calcification is likely the cause. And the condition can be particularly painful when the calcium deposits irritate the bursa. And number five bursal rupture is just what, it sounds like a rupture of the bursa leading to the leakage of bursal fluid. into surrounding tissues. Bursal injuries require a diagnosis. The three types are a clinical examination. So physical assessment of symptoms and your joint function. So how well, or how limited your Joint function is. Number two imaging. x-rays ultrasound or an MRI to visualize bursal abnormalities and also to rule out other conditions. So I had an MRI. When I had frozen shoulder. And. I started with a clinical examination and the physio. Thought that it was frozen shoulder, but just to rule out bursitis. He ordered an MRI. And in that MRI, they could tell that my bursa was Intact and not inflamed. And it was in fact frozen shoulder.. Finally aspiration and lab tests. So fluid analysis in case of suspected infection. Or hemorrhage. Nets let's discuss lymph nodes. But let's back up for a second and understand your lymphatic system as a whole. So what is the lymphatic system? If you could imagine your body has a special cleaning crew that works to keep everything clean and healthy, this. Imagined cleaning crew is your lymphatic system. It's a network of tiny tubes. And nodes the small bean shape structures. That help your body fight off infections. Uh, get rid of waste and keep your fluids balanced. How does your lymphatic system work? First, you have length, which is a clear fluid that flows through the lymphatic system is made up of water, proteins, and white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting infections. Then you have lymph vessels and these are like the highways that carry lymph fluid throughout your body. They run alongside your blood vessels. And you have lymph nodes. Think of these as checkpoints or filters, they trap and destroy harmful substances like bacteria and viruses. You have clusters of lymph nodes in your neck. Arm pits, groin, and other areas of your body. And you can actually palpate them with your fingers and you've likely felt them before. And you felt them swell. Um, during times when you've been sick. The lymphatic system also includes the spleen. Thymus and tonsils, which play a role in producing and maturing white blood cells. So, what does the lymphatic system do? Well, number one, it fights infections. The lymphatic system produces and transports white blood cells, which are like soldiers that attack and destroy germs. Number two, it removes waste and toxins. It collects waste products and toxins from your tissues and carries them away to be filtered out by your body. And then finally it balances fluids. It helps maintain the balance of fluids in your body by collecting excess fluid from tissues and returning it to your bloodstream. If you get a cut or scrape, the lymphatic system jumps into action to fight off any germs that might enter your body, even without injuries. Your lymphatic system is always working, cleaning out waste and keeping your immune system ready to respond to any threats. When you're sick, you might notice swollen lymph nodes, like I mentioned before in your neck or in other areas, this is because your lymphatic system is working hard to fight off the infection. Also if your lymphatic system gets blocked or damage such as after certain surgeries or cancer treatments, it can cause swelling in your arms or legs because the fluid can't drain properly. Unlike your heart, which pumps blood, the lymphatic system doesn't have a pump. It relies on movement and muscle contractions to push the lymph fluid through out the vessels. So staying active keeps your lymphatic system working well. Which is why I always preach to move daily. It doesn't have to be a crazy yoga class. It doesn't have to be 60 minutes of this or that. but keeping your body moving is so important is especially as you age. the lymphatic system is crucial for keeping you healthy. It's like having an internal defense system and waste management crew all in one. Without it, your body wouldn't be able to fight infections or keep your tissues clean. And balanced. Some examples of injuries or conditions I might say in the lymph nodes or lymphatic system include. Lympha denied is which are swollen lymph nodes in your neck due to an upper respiratory infection. The next is lymphoma. it's cancer of the lymphatic system causing enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit. And then finally lymphedema cause by some form of blockage in the lymphatic system And is most commonly caused by either lymph node removal or damage due to cancer treatment. Finally, let's get onto nerves. And I'm kind of excited to talk about these injuries because students with nerve injury often show up to yoga classes. And they're going to tell you about it for sure. So first nerves play a crucial role in the human body by transmitting signals between different parts of the body and the central nervous system. The brain. And spinal cord. let's pause and talk about their function for a bit. Nerve serve different functions, including sensory motor autonomic and reflex response. And they also play a part in your coordination and balance. Sensory nerves also known as afferent nerves. Carrie sensory information from your body to the central nervous system, they transmit signals related to touch. Temperature. Pain and pressure from the skin. And other sensory organs to your brain. Sensory nerves allow you to perceive and respond to your environment. For example, feeling heat from a hot surface And reacting to avoid a burn. Motor nerves or efferent nerves carry signals from the central nervous system. To muscles and glands. They stimulate muscle contraction for movement and regulate the activities of glands. Motor nerves enable voluntary movements like walking, running, and typing. Autonomic nerves control involuntary bodily functions and are part of the autonomic nervous system. They regulate activities such as heart rate, blood pressure. Digestion and respiratory rate. Autonomic nerves, maintain homeostasis by ensuring that essential body functions. Operate smoothly. Without your conscious effort. Reflex nerves are involved in reflex actions, which are automatic responses to certain stimuli. For example, the knee jerk reflects when a doctor taps your knee with the hammer. These nerves provide quick protective responses to potentially harmful stimuli aiding in injury prevention. It's important to note that nerves work with the brain and muscles to maintain coordination and balance proprialceptive nerves. Get feedback about body position. Aiding in coordinated movement. They allow for smooth, coordinated, physical activities. And maintain balance. Preventing falls and injuries. How did nerves transmit signals, nerves or neurons transmit signals through electrical impulses and chemical signals. Nerves are essential for your survival and overall wellbeing. They allow you to interact with. And adapt to your environment, perform complex tasks and regulate vital bodily functions. Therefore nerve damage can lead to a loss of sensation. Movement or autonomic function, which highlights their crucial role in your health. Common nerve injuries include number one, sciatica. We hear about this a lot. So I Attica is the compression of the sciatic nerve causing pain. That radiates from your lower back, Down the back of your leg. The next is carpal tunnel syndrome. Which is the compression of the median nerve in the wrist. Leaving to numbness and tingling in the hand, a lot of people who have desk jobs and use keyboards. experience carpal tunnel syndrome. the third is Bell's palsy, which is a sudden weakness or paralysis of facial muscles due to inflammation of the facial nerve. What is important to note? Is that the origin of nerve pain? Isn't singular. For example in Seattle. The pain can originate. Around the piriformis muscle, one of the deep six external rotators of your hip Because the sciatic nerve. Runs either through or underneath the pure form is muscle. Or sciatica that originates in the lumbar spine. Either from a herniated disc. When the soft, inner gel of the intervertebral disc protrudes through its tougher outer layer. Or spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal canal, which can compress the nerves, traveling through the lower back to the legs. Or degenerative disc disease, which involves a breakdown of intervitreal disc leading to decreased disc height. And possible nerve compression. Then fond Dillo list. This thesis. Say that three times spondylosis lifts thesis, which is a condition where one vertebrae slips forward. Over the vertebra below it. Whenever a student comes to class and says they have sciatica. can I do some hip stretches? For them. The first question I ask is, have you been diagnosed, do you know where your psychiatric originates from? And this is important to note here. So if you've gotten distracted, come back. I want you to hear this. If. Sciatica or originates in the lumbar spine. A pigeon stretch or a figure four stretch is not the appropriate course of action to treat this type of sciatica. Instead. Exercises and or treatments that target the lumbar spine and what is happening in that? Area of the body. Is more appropriate. I cannot stress that. Enough, because if it originates in the lumbar spine and you're trying to treat the area around the buttocks, Uh, deep six rotators. it's Not. going to help the problem because that's not where the problem is. This is so important to note because I see yoga teachers doing figure four stretches all the time for sciatica, and it's just not a well informed movement to offer students who have sciatica. If they haven't been diagnosed. Tell them to get diagnosed so that they know as a student. Where their problem. Is arising. Is it the low back? Is it in the buttocks? They need to know in order to progress forward with. Treatment. It is so, so, so important that I emphasize that I am not teaching you all about these injuries and conditions so that you can go out and diagnose your students. That's not your job. And it is also outside of your scope of practice. I do not diagnose students either. My first question to a student who presents with an injury. Or a condition. Is have you been to a doctor or have you been diagnosed? Then I lead into a conversation with them because it informs me about what I'm planning on teaching. What their capabilities are. And if I need to take anything into consideration, I will die on this hill. I don't think it's responsible to teach movement and not study movement anatomy and injuries. And that's not to say that you have to be an expert. It's not to say you have to have a doctor or be a physical therapist. Instead. It means that you have at least a basic knowledge of what your students can and cannot do and what they're experiencing in their bodies. If you cannot already tell, this is one of the subjects that lights me up and I want all teachers of movement to understand how a working knowledge of the human body affects your teaching. I don't think we talk about the importance of anatomy enough. And if this conversation feels uncomfortable or overwhelming, Don't worry. This is exactly where change happens. Start with an anatomy book. Watch a video series. Look at students' bodies follow accounts on social media that will teach you. Just keep taking the steps to be more informed. I hope that this episode sparks some deeper thought around why knowledge of anatomy and injuries is so important as a movement educator. I've added the link in the show notes for you to send me a quick text message about your thoughts on this episode or any other. And I love to read your messages when you respond. I'm not going to know your phone number. It's just a cool addition to the platform that I use that allows for this new and super easy way for you to communicate with me. Once you click on it, it will take you to your messages. Do not delete the code. That's how your message gets to me specifically. And I would love to know your thoughts on this topic. I love diving into these conversations because there are so many important discussions to be had in the teaching world. You know that my goal for you. Is to love the yoga teaching life and allow it to be fulfilling and rewarding. And sometimes it takes some work and a few conversations to get there. If you love this episode, let me know, subscribe to the podcast. So you're always in the note when a new episode drops and share it with another yoga teacher who you think would love to be in on these conversations. Thank you for helping to spread the word about this podcast. If you've been taking notes in your journal, as you listen to these episodes, I'm so glad And I'd love to hear about that too. Finally, don't forget to join my newsletter. That's just for yoga teachers. I've got some exciting teachings coming soon. And I want to tell you all about them. The link is in the show notes below, and I would love for you to join it so we can always stay. Connected. All right, that's it for now? Bye. Mhm.