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Exercise, Physical Therapy, and Chronic Pain: Be Your Own Success Story by Chloe Pearson

A diagnosis of chronic pain doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of dangerous and addictive pharmaceuticals. Alternative treatments are becoming more and more mainstream with exercise being the most promising option. Rather than coping with your pain in order to avoid addiction, try a pain management plan that focuses on regular exercise and physical therapy and can boost your mental health along with your physical health.

Yoga and Meditation as Pain Treatment 

Depending on your pain, different forms of exercise will be most useful for you and your condition. However, some forms of exercise focus on the entire body, making them ideal for all chronic pain sufferers.

Yoga offers equal attention to all parts of the body, including muscles and joints. It is low-impact and can be done regardless of the practitioner’s fitness level and experience. It also employs the use of focused breathing to relax the body. Furthermore, yoga offers the additional benefit of meditative practice. Meditation by itself has also been shown to improve chronic pain. In fact, one study showed it could reduce pain by 57%! Therefore, when combined with a full-body workout, it makes for a perfect, chronic pain-fighting combination.

Because it takes pressure off your joints, swimming is another great way to get exercise for those with chronic pain. Being in the water is also calming and can help reduce stress and anxiety. If you enjoy swimming, it’s definitely a pain management method to consider. And if your mobility is limited, not to worry. Just look for an ADA-compliant indoor pool in your area. The facility will have a pool lift to aid you in getting in and out of the water.

Perhaps yoga, meditation, and swimming don’t appeal to you. That’s just fine. Even something as simple as taking a daily walk can improve your chronic pain by getting the muscles working and the joints moving. What’s important is that you find an activity you enjoy doing so that you can stick with it.

Why Do Physical Therapy?

Physical therapists are in the business of pain relief. While you may be perfectly capable of exercising daily and reducing your pain, a physical therapist can identify the underlying source of your pain and guide you through specific exercises that will help to improve flexibility and reduce inflammation in those areas. They are also able to track your progress and suggest helpful routines for your everyday pain. Most importantly, your therapist can make sure that you do not overexert yourself and end up worsening the symptoms of your pain.

Provided your insurance covers it, the expertise of a well-trained physical therapist can make all the difference in your chronic pain. They are essentially a coach, training you and your body to reduce your pain while offering tips and advice. Even if you only go to a few sessions, you will notice the difference.

Additional Resources

Support and advice from other chronic pain sufferers can be invaluable. Seeking an exercise group, support group, or even a class specifically for people dealing with chronic pain can be a great asset in your journey to feeling better. Classes on exercise for chronic pain specifically are becoming easier and easier to find. Not only will these workouts be tailored to your condition, but they offer you the opportunity to make connections with people in the same situation who may have advice and recommendations.

You also have the wide reaches of the internet to connect you to professionals and peers for advice and support. Be sure you are using these resources.

As you increase physical activity it’s also important to remember to get plenty of rest. Not only does getting the right amount of sleep have positive mental health benefits, it also is believed to have the ability to provide natural pain relief.

Becoming your own success story does not have to be difficult, particularly if you have the help of a trained physical therapist and support groups of your peers. Someday, with consistent physical therapy and exercise treatments, you may be the one leading a class on healthy pain management. It’s all about commitment and persistence!

Image via Pixabay by aldineiderios