Exercise can assist in alleviating chronic pain by strengthening muscles and joints. The right activities will help you feel your best. Enjoy exercise and improve your physical health with these four tips for staying active with chronic pain.
1. Consult Your Healthcare Provider
Consult with your healthcare provider before starting a workout routine. One of the common myths about chronic pain is that physical activity will worsen the condition. However, the right exercises can improve your strength, stamina, balance, and overall wellness.
Your doctor can provide guidelines and recommendations for appropriate exercise and intensity levels. They can also help you identify potential risks or understand modifications you should make to your plan.
2. Do Low-Impact Activities
An essential tip for staying active with chronic pain is to do low-impact activities. Low-impact exercises are gentle on joints and muscles.
Consider these excellent low-impact exercises:
- Swimming
- Stationary cycling
- Yoga
- Walking
Tip: Always Stretch Before Exercising
Gentle stretching loosens your joints and improves blood flow to muscles. Stretching before working out improves your flexibility and range of motion, and it’s an essential step for preventing injury.
3. Use Relaxation Techniques
Relieve tension in your muscles and joints with relaxation techniques. Try deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.
Progressive muscle relaxation involves slowly tensing and relaxing one muscle group at a time. Progressive muscle relaxation can lower blood pressure, decrease muscle tension, and reduce anxiety and fatigue.
You can combine these techniques with your physical activity routine. For example, you can start or end your exercise with a few minutes of deep breathing.
4. Be Consistent
Consistency is the key to results. Setting realistic goals, modifying your exercises as needed, and tracking your progress can help you make physical activity part of your routine.
Listen to your body to find exercises that work for you. If a particular movement increases your pain or discomfort, it may not suit you. Modifications or doing a different activity can give you better results.
Consult your healthcare provider to understand what exercises you can safely try. Then, do low-impact activities and try relaxation techniques to improve your flexibility, mobility, and mental tranquility. Finally, whatever your activity level, exercise consistently for long-lasting improvement.
