The Importance of Exercising for Chronic Pain Management
Exercise is an essential part of maintaining good health and preventing health issues from occurring in the future. However, many patients with chronic pain struggle to engage in exercise as a result of their condition. It is very important for all individuals to find forms of exercise that they are comfortable with and make them feel good, both physically and mentally. Patients with chronic pain, specifically in the lumbar and cervical spine, must find low-impact exercise options to keep them healthy and strong while making sure to not irritate the spine.
At BEST Health System, we encourage our patients to adopt a comprehensive treatment plan consisting of therapies and at-home relief practices. Exercise is an essential part of staying healthy as it improves strength, increases range of motion, and improves flexibility. Over time, patients who exercise often notice less pain and can be mobile for longer periods.
Your Body’s Limitations when Exercising with Chronic Pain
Although exercise is important for everyone, patients with chronic pain must be more aware of the activities they choose to engage in. Running, heavy-weight lifting, and impact sports can exacerbate chronic pain and slow down the treatment process.
It can take some time for patients to curate an exercise plan since it comes down to trial and error. Each patient’s condition and cause of chronic pain is unique. Although yoga may be the ideal workout for some patients, others may find that it irritates their spine and actually worsens their pain. Taking the time to find a set of exercises that serve you is essential. If you are in the process of identifying workouts that do not exacerbate your pain, continue reading to learn about our suggestions.
Top Activities for Exercising with Chronic Pain
Walking: Walking is one of the most recommended exercises for patients with severe chronic pain. This can improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen muscles, and boost endurance. If you have chronic pain and are interested in going on walks, consider starting with shorter distances and then building up when you get more comfortable. Ideally, finding softer surfaces can also prevent pain from manifesting. Concrete and other hard surfaces can cause the joints to become irritated. Instead, consider walking on grass, treadmills, or other soft surfaces that can absorb more impact and take the pressure off your joints.
Swimming: Swimming is an excellent low-impact exercise that helps many patients stay active without irritating their bodies. The buoyant properties of the water can counteract gravity and take the pressure off the joints. If you are just getting started with swimming, you can begin using a kickboard and rotating between flutter kicks and froggy kicks. Once you get more comfortable, you can experiment with various strokes to see what makes you feel best. If froggy kicks irritate your hips, you should avoid it. The most important part of swimming is finding a stroke that you are comfortable with and that serves you and your recovery goals.
Yoga: Yoga is a great exercise that promotes flexibility and proper posture. Additionally, patients who practice yoga are often able to improve their range of motion and prevent additional pain. Although some yoga classes are more intense, many studios offer classes that are great for beginners and those looking for slow-paced workouts.
Further Treatment with BEST Health System
If you have exhausted conservative therapies and continue to experience significant pain, you may consider further treatment. BEST Health System is a modern ambulatory center offering advanced treatments to those suffering from debilitating pain. If you are interested in a minimally invasive surgical approach, consider our spinal cord stimulation trial program.
Spinal cord stimulators are surgically implanted medical devices that help patients with chronic pain. These devices work by blocking pain signals before they reach the brain. If you are interested in learning more about our trial programs, connect with us today.
