I too have a Yoga practice which I enjoy and have had conflicting thoughts as to it's benefits re DC. On one hand, I feel that keeping my hands, wrists and fingers flexible and as extended as possible (especially in the weight-bearing poses) cannot help but stave off contracture. On the other hand, I'm concerned that the extensions and even hyper-extensions may be defined as the sort of 'trauma' which exascerbates the condition. I have begun to modify the hand position on certain of the poses because of this and that seems like a workable compromise.I am convinced that any sort of purposeful, focused body work is of value...with an emphasis on being gentle with yourself. Good luck.

I agree, I agree Mr. Blunt. My only 'conflict' is Florida...or Paris?!

I have DC in my hands and Ledderhose in my feet and both my hands and feet are "double-jointed". I'd be interested to know whether this is common in both disorders.

I enjoy yoga. It keeps my hands loose. I had NA a few years ago. My hands are usually stiff and sore. Yoga loosens my hands. My hands feel much better after yoga.

Randy,

As I said in my last post <I would caution anyone seeking yoga as a therapy not to put all your eggs into that basket, but it can't hurt. Who knows you may find it helps in other ways as well.> There is no harm in trying something that's been around for thousands of years, and has been proven to be benefitial to the facia tissue. I have seen people with all sorts of medical conditions that are just as dipilitating, and permanent find confort, relief, and improvement of their conditions. I thought that since this discussion was already in progress, I would add the experience & knowledge of a certified yoga instructor. The fact is that Yoga, as well as massage, manipulates facia tissue. It frees areas that have become stuck, and theoretically could benefit an ongoing struggle with any condition that affects facia and lymph.

There is a really good article in the current issue of yoga journal about feet. It gives terrific advice on exercises specifically for foot health. (for anyone interested)

On the other topic, the hand surgeon did not know it was dupuytren's until he removed the nodule, it was only after the nodule was sent for pathology testing that it was discovered. He is very young & none of his doctors expected this condition to show itself so early. There is no one in his family who'd been previosly diagnosed & quite frankly, we'd never heard of this disease until the surgeon suggested that he'd suspected dupuytren's during the surgery. I thank you for your advice on this topic & will pass it along.

There will be no other posts from me in this forum. If anyone wishes to ask any questions, or for recommendations on the topic of Yoga & it's benefits, please contact me privately. I am not currently teaching, so this is not a solicitation, just an offer for further information & resources.

I am not nuts. I have seen and experienced the benefits of this ancient practice first hand. It is widely known in eastern medicine that it is when the mind and body are stuck that disease occurs. Heredity or not, it is optomism that opens us up to recieve the gifts we never knew were there.


Happiness & healing for all of you....
Pratima