ISLAMABAD: A recent study inferred that Islamic prayer practices, such as bowing and kneeling, can actually reduce pain in lower back if done regularly and according to the general principles.
“One way to think about the movements is that they are similar to those of yoga or physical therapy intervention exercises used to treat low back pain,” said Professor Mohammad Khasawneh from Binghamton University in the US.
“Prayer can eliminate physical stress and anxiety, while there is also research that indicates prayer rituals can be considered an effective clinical treatment of neuro- musculoskeletal dysfunction,” said Khasawneh in the study published in the International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Researchers analysed statistics based on the movements of computer-generated digital human models of healthy Asian, and American men and women with lower back pain, Science Daily reported.
They found that the bowing is the most stressful on the lower back, but for individuals with low back pain, using proper knee and back angles during the ritual can reduce pain. The angles are based on individual body shapes.
“The maximum compression forces created during prayer postures is much lower than National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) safety limits, and the movements can be safely considered a clinical treatment for low back pain, as it requires different movements of the human body on a regular basis,” Khasawneh said.
“The kneeling posture (sujud) increases the elasticity of joints. It is recommended for these individuals to spend more time in the kneeling posture,” Khasawneh added.
