Introduction
I remember a case that surprised me.
Years ago, I treated a teenage girl with back problems who also suffered from constipation. The thoracolumbar area showed a rigid kyphosis, as did her hips. She spent a lot of time sitting and did very little physical activity.
Constipation in children is a common condition that is often accompanied by stiffness in the dorsal musculature, especially in the cervico-thoracic region, and postural alterations such as rigid kyphosis.
At that time, I was a manual therapist who thought my treatment was the most important thing. Maybe that happens to others too. I don’t know…
The TMPI lumbar treatment released the tension in her spine and musculature, and immediately afterward she was able to improve her posture — but I felt that wasn’t enough. The treatment also included the vagus nerve release we do with TMPI, once it was confirmed that the occipital bone had a rigid rebound and the abdomen was under tension. I was treating consequences and not much more.
I decided to suggest more physical activity in general, but while I was thinking about that, I gave her a 10-minute yoga protocol that included repeated extensions and stretches.
Apparently, yoga not only promotes mobility and musculoskeletal relief but also stimulates the digestive system and regulates the nervous system. I’ll go into detail about some of the main advantages of yoga for children with these characteristics — a valuable resource both in the clinic and at home.
🧘♀️ Advantages of Yoga for Children with Constipation and Dorsal Rigidity
1. Digestive stimulation and constipation relief
- Twists and abdominal flexions provide internal massage, stimulating intestinal peristalsis and facilitating elimination.
- Poses such as Child’s Pose, Wind-Relieving Pose, supine twists, and Malasana apply pressure on the abdominal area, providing relief (myyogateacher.com).
- The combination of physical movement, mindful breathing, and stress reduction improves the frequency of bowel movements in children (enfamil.ca).
2. Reduction of muscular tension and improved mobility
- Yoga stretches the paravertebral muscles, improving flexibility and reducing rigidity in the cervico-thoracic area.
- It strengthens the spinal extensors, multifidus, and stabilizing muscles, which promotes a more upright and less kyphotic posture (yogainternational.com).
3. Nervous system regulation and stress reduction
- Pranayama techniques and diaphragmatic breathing activate the parasympathetic system, encouraging digestive relaxation (realsimple.com).
- By reducing anxiety and stress — factors that worsen functional constipation and postural tension — overall well-being improves.
- This serves as a good complement to vagus nerve treatment.
4. Improved abdominal pain and quality of life
- In children with functional digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (forget the diagnosis and simply say intestinal functional alterations), yoga has been shown to reduce abdominal pain and improve emotional coping (healthychildren.org).
- The combination of stretching, breathing, and relaxation enhances the perception of well-being and quality of life (healthychildren.org).
5. Psychomotor and postural development
- It improves body awareness, balance, and coordination — fundamental skills in child development (en.wikipedia.org).
- It supports concentration, emotional regulation, and self-confidence, encouraging the continuation of healthy habits.
Example of a Yoga Protocol After TMPI Treatment
I’m not very good at yoga — in fact, I’m more like a plank (not a flexible bamboo…) — but a protocol of at least 10 minutes a day, and ideally twice a day in more complex situations, could be very useful.
As you already know from TMPI, nothing is as powerful as a small exercise done every day. That’s an important point. That’s why one class per week is not going to bring the immediate results you might expect. The protocol should include the following components:
- Warm-up: diaphragmatic breathing + cervical and shoulder stretches.
- Controlled twists: supine (knees to chest), light spinal twist, restorative poses.
- Gentle spinal extensions: poses like Cobra or Bridge, adapted to age and rigidity.
- Squatting exercises (“Malasana”) to open the pelvis and facilitate elimination.
- Final relaxation: deep breathing and gentle stretches to integrate the effects.
Conclusion
Yoga can be a very interesting therapeutic complement within the TMPI approach for children and adolescents with constipation and rigid kyphosis, once the necessary manual therapy has been applied.
On a physical level, it offers greater mobility, digestive stimulation, and pain relief; on a psychophysiological level, it promotes relaxation, regulates nervous tone, and strengthens postural awareness. When implemented at home, it supports adherence and encourages the child’s autonomy, extending the benefits beyond the clinical setting.
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