Chronic pain is usually defined as a type of pain that persists longer than 12 weeks or, beyond the healing time of a normal injury. It differs to acute pain which is usually caused by tissue damage and alerts us to an injury. Chronic pain may begin with an initial injury or it may be related to illness and is associated with increased sensitivity of the nervous system.
Evidence indicates that exercise is an essential component of managing chronic pain even though that may seem like the last thing you’d want to do! Many people avoid exercise due to the false belief that it will cause a flare up. By maintaining a regular exercise routine, de-conditioning and worsening pain can be prevented.
Types of exercise recommended to manage chronic pain include:
Strengthening Exercises
To help build strong muscles
Improve joint function/bone density (helps to protect against injury)
Maintaining flexibility and balance (important as we age)
Cardiovascular Exercise
Low impact activities (such as walking, biking, swimming, yoga and Pilates) provide oxygen to your muscles and boost energy levels as well as reducing pain and stiffness.
Stretching and Relaxation
Stretching helps to increase flexibility and loosen stiff muscles. Incorporating stretching into an exercise plan can help to reduce stiffness associated with chronic pain.
We always recommend consulting an exercise professional to help with the management of chronic disease. If you need further help or information, please contact us on 03 9825 2697
Source: chronic pain and exercise http://exerciseright.com.au/chronic-pain-and-exercise/