Chronic Pain Exercise Essay

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Exercises for Chronic Pain

Exercising may be the last thing you think about doing when you have chronic pain. If you don’t exercise, you joints may stiffen and lose mobility causing chronic pain to be more intense. The benefits of physical activity includes muscle strengthening, weight management, joint mobility and mental health. You physician may encourage you to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Here are a couple of simple activities to get you moving.

Go for a Walk

Taking a long stroll around your neighborhood, local track, park or treadmill is a great low impact exercise for your joints. Walking can increase blood flow, oxygenate your blood, reduce stiffness, boost energy and builds endurance. Research has shown …show more content…

The resilience of water can help you accomplish movements that would usually be difficult or painful. Incorporating 30 minutes of water aerobics at least twice a week in a heated pool can improve health, decrease stress and increase your social life.

You don’t have to know how to swim to attend a water aerobics class. Most classes workout in shallow water. If water aerobics is in deep water, you’ll be provided with a floating device.

Pilates

Pilates emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. Chronic pain can modify the brain structure linking to depression and anxiety. Incorporating meticulous breathing allows your muscles to relax, and in turn, calms your mental state putting you at ease and “disconnecting” from your body. Pilates is low impact, strengthens your core, stability and allows gentle stretching of your muscles. Pilates requires instructions, so seek a professional before beginning.

Weight Lifting

We aren’t talking about becoming a bodybuilder. Incorporating light weights to your exercise plan can strengthen the muscles surrounding your joints to relieve joint stress. Using 2-4 pound weights or even your own body weight is

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