The importance of regular exercise has never been more widely known. The number of people taking better care of themselves is continually increasing. During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, global exercise rates accelerated by 88% in some cases. Many people now consider their fitness routine an essential part of their lifestyle.
But not everyone can just pick up and run off, bench press like the Hulk, or crunch for Greek God abs. You may experience disabilities or debilitating issues that prevent you from participating in some of the most basic exercises. Common pain problems are one of the primary reasons for not exercising as much as you would like.
But there are some that you can perform without issue and that may actually relieve your pain.
Note: Please discuss with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine.
Exercises for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is categorized as prolonged pain for 12 months or longer. You could experience chronic pain due to a severe injury such as a car crash, sporting injury, or a work-related accident such as a slip, trip, or fall. In most cases, you would be prescribed a strong painkiller such as an opioid like OxyContin for pain relief. This type of prescription medication is highly addictive, and you may want to try natural pain relief instead.
Back and spine issues are a common cause of chronic pain. Any good chiropractor is excellent at providing pain relief, but you may suffer between visits. You can enhance this work with some exercises. For example, aquatic therapy is perfect for slowly relieving inflammation, and the water protects muscles from stress. You can also try gentle stretching and strengthening exercises such as the Dead Bug.
Exercises for Musculoskeletal Issues
Musculoskeletal injuries are among some of the most painful you can experience. They are primarily caused by sudden jerking movements, which cause nerve damage. The resulting pain affects ligaments, muscles, bones, and tendons. The pain is usually localized, such as in the shoulder. However, when moving, an affected area is debilitating and irritating and can take months to heal.
Because of the severe pain associated with musculoskeletal, you will want to move as little as possible. But this can sometimes make the problem worse. Gentle movement is encouraged. You can help with any musculoskeletal pain with light exercises such as water aerobics, swimming, and walking. Low-impact Yoga, Pilates or Tai-Chi will also be beneficial. The gentle movements associated with these activities will slowly loosen tension and accelerate healing.
Exercises for Headaches and Tension
Everyone gets a headache from time to time. It can range from hardly anything to a harrowing experience that can severely disrupt your life. While there isn’t one single cause of headaches, most are believed to be caused by tension and stress. Fortunately, because of this, treatment for headaches is readily performed if you don’t want to take an over-the-counter pain killer.
Because headaches are related to tension, simple stretching is an excellent method of pain relief. Low-intensity Yoga is a perfect way to stretch your body. However, Yoga isn’t for everyone. Instead, you can try simple exercise stretches followed by deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation.