If you suffer from chronic pain, you may have heard that exercise can help, and while there are certainly a number of benefits to exercising, you need to be careful when it comes to exercise and persistent pain. There is a lot of debate regarding the types of exercises that should be done, and whether or not exercise is even beneficial, so you need to consider the big picture and your condition specifically to see if exercise can help.
There is no doubt that exercise is a must for a healthy lifestyle and that it is helpful to some extent when it comes to chronic pain. Some patients may see small improvements in pain, while others may see far better results, and it’s possible for some patients to experience no changes at all in terms of pain and function. This means that while exercise can help, it is not a guarantee that you will experience changes or improvements, and it is not a sure way of eliminating your pain.
It is important to focus on all of the health and functional benefits of exercise instead of just looking at pain improvement because this will help you see the bigger picture instead of concentrating on just one aspect. Exercising will improve the health of your heart, your muscle mass, bone density, strength, power and endurance, so there are a number of benefits to consider and looking just at pain outcomes is not enough.
It is also important to remember that pain is complex, so it is experienced differently by everyone, which is why exercise does not have the same effect on every patient. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution to chronic pain as some patients who are diligent with their exercises may not experience any improvements at all, while others may experience a drastic change, so it is crucial that patients are educated on both the benefits and risks that are involved in active exercise therapy.
Your physiotherapist will recommend certain exercises based on your condition and the severity of your pain, although you can do exercises and movements you feel comfortable with, including walking outside or gardening. The most important thing is that you remain consistent. It is equally as important to be aware of your abilities and to stick to exercises that are suitable because the wrong ones can result in more pain. You need to take on tasks you can actually complete and must turn to activities that promote heart health, bone density and muscle mass. Combining specific exercises recommended by your physiotherapist with the activities you love is ideal as this will help you achieve the best results. Make sure you take your goals, tolerances, medical history and prior activity levels into consideration.
The experts at Core Physical Care will create a program that is specifically suited to every patient’s individual needs. We specialize in aqua-therapy and in-home physiotherapy, so if you are looking for a reputable physio clinic in the Tornoto Area, contact us today!
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