Yoga can improve existing aches but also cause musculoskeletal pain and worsen injuries, according to University of Sydney research.

A study of 354 people with a one-year follow-up, published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, found that yoga caused musculoskeletal pain in 10 per cent of people and exacerbated 21 per cent of existing injuries.

However, 74 per cent of participants reported that existing pain was improved by yoga, which highlights “the complex relationship between musculoskeletal pain and yoga practice,” according to associate professor Evangelos Pappas from the university’s faculty of health sciences, who led the research.

He said: “Our study found that the incidence of pain caused by yoga is more than 10 per cent per year, which is comparable to the injury rate of all sports injuries combined among the physically active population. However people consider it to be a very safe activity. This injury rate is up to 10 times higher than has previously been reported.

“We also found that yoga can exacerbate existing pain, with 21 per cent of existing injuries made worse by doing yoga, particularly pre-existing musculoskeletal pain in the upper limbs.”

The study found that most “new” yoga pain was in the upper limbs (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand).

Papas said the findings are useful for clinicians and individuals to compare the risks of yoga to other exercise enabling them to make informed decisions about which types of activity are best.

He said: “Pain caused by yoga might be prevented by careful performance and participants telling their yoga teachers of injuries they may have prior to participation, as well as informing their healthcare professionals about their yoga practice.

“We recommend that yoga teachers also discuss with their students the risks for injury if not practised conscientiously, and the potential for yoga to exacerbate some injuries.”