The Best Exercises for Chronic Pain

Exercise may be the last thing you want to do if you’re experiencing chronic pain, but it is actually one of the best things you can do to help manage your symptoms. You may have heard the term “exercise is medicine.” Well in many cases, this is absolutely true! Inactivity causes muscles and joints to weaken over time, but exercise reverses that process and can help those with chronic pain regain strength and increase energy.

Regular exercise keeps your joints moving.

It is important to keep joints moving, as it helps maintain mobility and flexibility. Flexibility is important for completing everyday activities with ease. Getting out of bed, lifting groceries, and vacuuming the floor require a certain level of flexibility. If not maintained regularly, your flexibility will deteriorate with age.

Reduced flexibility forces you to strain your body more to carry out those same everyday activities. This increases the likelihood of an injury which can result in pain. Staying flexible will keep your body performing better for longer.

Consider making light yoga or gentle stretching a regular part of your daily routine. If you are able, do your stretching first thing in the morning. This will help relieve any tension or aches from sleeping, increase blood flow, and get your body feeling its best before starting your day.

Staying active is good for your mental health.

Pain is closely linked with mental health. Patients with chronic pain often struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues due to the limitations it puts on their daily lives. To make matters worse, that same stress and anxiety can cause the body to increase production of certain chemicals that cause inflammation, further escalating pain.

But regular exercise can boost your confidence and self-esteem, resulting in a healthier emotional state of mind! This is turn can reduce pent up stress and help bring your body into balance.

Exercising with friends is even better! Having a workout partner makes it harder to procrastinate and can make the process much more fun! Find a friend or family member to exercise with for added motivation. Remember, staying active is good for both your mind and your body.

Exercise helps keep muscles strong.

Having strong muscles helps support your spine. A well-supported spine can prevent stress and strain injuries, cushion your vertebrae during daily movements, and do a more effective job of supporting your weight. Exercise also improves the strength of tendons and ligaments, allowing for better function and mobility while reducing the chance of injury.

Maintaining strong and durable tissue helps hold the body in proper alignment and protect the bones and joints during impact. Weaker tissue, on the other hand, is more prone to damage and malfunction, which can often cause pain.

Just remember to know your limits, as overexerting yourself while strength training can result in injury and pain. Start small and work your way up. We also highly recommend you consult with a healthcare professional before beginning an exercise routine. They can help make sure your body is ready for exercise and provide some important recommendations.

Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight.

Extra weight can significantly worsen chronic pain issues. The heavier you are, the harder your muscles, joints, and tendons have to work to support your body and perform tasks. The harder your tissues have to work, the more easily strains and other kinds of damage can occur.

In addition, spinal structures such as discs can be negatively impacted by obesity. You may experience sciatica and low back pain from a herniated disc or a pinched nerve if the discs have been damaged from compensating for extra weight.

Making healthy nutrition choices and getting regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight and fend off pain flare ups.