It can be so hard to exercise and keep in shape when you are suffering from chronic pain. Nevertheless, there are ways in which this can be done. Of course, these efforts must be done with careful consideration for the cause of your chronic pain and care must be taken not to cause yourself further injury.
Chronic back pain
Chronic back pain can be a debilitating ailment. Most people’s first reaction is to take it easy, stay in bed or keep from moving around too much. This might be a good idea at first, especially before going to a doctor for his or her opinion. However, it’s best to do some kind of strengthening exercise to help the back heal and maintain your flexibility.
Most people can end up with minor chronic back pain just from sitting at a desk all day at work or even at home playing their online games. Even in the case of back pain caused by a collapsed disc, exercise can be very beneficial. Slow and steady controlled movements, such as stretching, can activate the healing properties of the body by increasing blood flow and disbursing nutrients. Furthermore, a little regular exercise for the back can decrease the pressure on the nerves and greatly lessen the pain over time.
Chronic knee pain
The most common kind of chronic knee pain is caused by knee osteoarthritis. This is caused by the wear and tear that comes with aging. The cartilage in the knees begin to thin considerably, and swelling and stiffness is a common reaction.
No matter what the cause of your knee pain, there are exercises to relieve knee pain and to help keep you in shape. However, the last thing you want to do is go jogging. This will further inflame your knees. The idea is to get your legs moving without causing further trauma. Some people with chronic knee pain will exercise in water. This might involve going to the swimming pool and either walking briskly around the swimming pool or lightly jogging in place. This will increase the strength of the knees and provide great cardiovascular exercise. Another option for knee pain sufferers is walking. Knee braces can be worn to decrease the pressure on the knees.
Chronic shoulder pain
Chronic shoulder pain can be caused by a dislocation and conditions, such as arthritis. Doing upper body exercises with pain in the shoulders can seem almost impossible. One simple exercise that can be done to relieve shoulder pain is a simple arm stretch. This is done by gently grabbing the left elbow with your right hand. Gently pull your elbow to the right in order to carefully stretch it. If the pain is severe, you should gently lower your arm until it feels more comfortable. Hold this position for a few seconds. Release, relax and do the same with the opposite shoulder. This exercise will increase flexibility, increase blood flow and promote healing. As the pain decreases, other more strenuous exercises can be done to strengthen the shoulders.
As a precaution, it’s always best to speak with a doctor before starting an exercise routine to recover from an injury or physical ailment.