We all know how important it is to exercise. Exercise can be great for your physical health as well as your mental wellbeing. Being able to get up and get your blood moving has always helped many people to look better and feel better, both inside and out.
But, what if you suffer from chronic pain? You may be inclined to reduce the amount of exercise you do if you suffer from chronic pain and illnesses. But the truth is, the right exercise may be just what you need. It’s always important not to overexert yourself and cause more pain for yourself. But, with the right exercises and advice from your doctor, you may be able to exercise your way to better health and less chronic pain.
Walking
Walking is a great exercise to partake in, no matter what your fitness level is. It’s a great option if you’re just getting started with an exercise regime or if you’re trying to get back into your normal routine after an injury. Walking just 30 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week has been shown to help improve your endurance, your heart health and can also help increase your strength. Because almost anyone can participate in a walk, it’s an especially useful exercise for those who are experiencing chronic pain. You can complete a short walk and a slow pace and slowly increase it until you start to experience less pain.
Swimming
Swimming is also an excellent exercise for when you are rehabilitating injuries, are experiencing chronic pain or just getting started with a new exercise regime. Swimming is also a good option for those who are experiencing joint pain. Because of the low impact of this exercise, it’s perfect to avoid additional pain on your joints. But, swimming offers a great cardiovascular workout. You won’t have to experience sore joints but you will still get a fantastic cardio workout.
Stretches
Exercise doesn’t always have to be about working up a sweat. Some gentle stretches might be just what you need to keep your mobility up, stop your muscles from feeling stiff and may also offer some relaxation benefits. Stretching can help relieve tension and stiffness and is good for large areas of pain like lower back pain or neck strains. Stretches are also easy to complete by all levels of fitness and don’t require any special exercise equipment. You can do it at almost any time of the day, even when you’re sitting at your work computer!
Deep breathing exercises
Meditation and deep breathing exercises are a type of exercise. They can help to reduce stress, help improve your heart rate and can work very well in conjunction with the exercises mentioned above. If you live with chronic pain, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing are very useful. You can sit on a comfortable chair or you can lie down. Take a moment to relax your muscles throughout your body and take deep breaths. Feel the air go down into your stomach and ensure you are breathing in with your diaphragm (and not just filling up your chest with air).
If you are suffering from chronic pain, you can still stay active and complete some exercises that may be beneficial to your health and wellness. Like with all changes to your regime, it’s always best to get advice from your doctor or medical practitioner to give you personalised advice. They will be able to discuss with you what exercises are best for you and your health level. In general, it is best to start slow and monitor your progress. But, if in doubt, always consult professional advice from your doctor.
Comments are closed.