Saturday, February 18, 2012

Exercise to manage pain

Exercise is one of the simplest and most effective ways to manage pain.  Almost all who suffer from chronic pain are able to exercise.  The benefits of a regular fitness regimen extend beyond pain control and include better overall health as well as improved mood and energy level.

The primary reason to exercise is to increase muscle strength and better support arthritic joints.  Studies demonstrate that in osteoarthritis, for example, exercise can result in decreased stress across joints and less pain.  This effect is most obvious in those with disk disease of the lumbar spine; core strengthing clearly reduces back pain over time.  In addition, arthritis and pain can lead to deconditioning and muscle atrophy through disuse.  In short, if it hurts to move, subconsciously we move less.  Weakness can lead to more stress across joints, falls, other injuries and loss of independence.  You can combat weakness and deconditioning through exercise.

Another good reason to exercise is to develop tolerance.  Exercise by definition is somewhat painful.  The more we exercise, the more we learn to ignore the discomfort.  Over time, this effect can diminish pain significantly.  In fibromyalgia, for example, exercise is the most effective way to reduce pain.

Exercise is also good for the mood.  Being outside or going to an exercise class requires leaving your house and limits isolation.  Endorphins, brain chemicals produced during exercise, also help with depression.

If exercise is so important, then, how is is possible for those with severe arthritis?  Fortunately there are many options to get moving.  For most of those suffering from chronic pain, aquatic therapy is an excellent choice that allows very low-impact exercise in a soothing warm water setting.  Others can walk or ride a stationary bike.  Chair exercise classes can help those who cannot walk or stand easily.

The benefits of exercise are clear and opportunities abound.  The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is a good source of information for appropriate exercise options in your area.  As always, though, ask your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

2 comments:

  1. exercise is great way to decrease pain. When we do exercise our all body parts do work. we can antioxidant with exercise' Joint Pain

    ReplyDelete
  2. My name is donald boykins , am here to appreciate Dr Akhigbe for using his herbal medicine to cure my Herpes virus. Is about 3 years and  6 months now I have been living with this virus and it has been a serious problem to me, I was so confused cause i have been taking several drugs to be cured but all of my effort was in vain,one morning I was browsing through the internet then I saw several testimonies about Dr. Akhigbe curing people from Herpes virus and immediately i contacted Dr. Akhigbe on his email: drrealakhigbe@gmail.com, i told him about my troubles and he told me that i must be cured, he gave me some instructions and which i rightly followed. so he prepared a herbal medicine  and sent it to me which i used for 2 weeks and i was cured everything was like a dream to me and my Herpes virus was totally gone, dr .Akhigbe, God bless you and give you more power and ability for more cure.I don't know if there is any one out there suffering for herpes virus or any of these diseases..DIABETES, CANCER, HIV/AIDS, HERPES  HEPATITiS A AND B , HEART DISEASE, CHRONIC DISEASE,EPILEPSY, LUPUS, STROKE,PARKINSON'S DISEASE, SPINAL CORD INJURY, ECZEMA, KIDNEY DISEASE, ACME, BACK PAIN,EXTERNAL INFECTION, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, COMMON COLD, JOINT PAIN, POLIO etc.   why don't you contact dr.Akhigbe today and be free from your diseases because he is very good and honest Doctor and he is also called the godfather of herbal root contact him via email; drrealakhigbe@gmail.com or whatsApp him on +2348142454860  website  https:drrealakhigbe.weebly.com

    ReplyDelete