Pain can generally be defined as a highly unpleasant physical sensation which is carried through the nervous system to the brain. It can be caused by illness, injury or surgery and its nature ranges from annoying to enervative. Pains have different prevalence time depending on the cause: can be consistent, can appear suddenly and can be frequent.
There are two basic types of pain: acute and chronic. Chronic pain brings an ongoing sensation lasting for longer than three months or more, while acute pains come and go suddenly. Although annoying and uncomfortable, pain is a good thing in a way since it acts as an indicator that lets us know when something is wrong and tells us what the cause can be. Some types of pain are easy to diagnose and can be treated with mild treatment. But some types of pain are difficult to diagnose and can relate to varying causes at the same time.
Medical professionals have different approaches to dealing with patients facing pain-related issues. Although there are countless ways and techniques to treat pain, two of the widely followed approaches are medication and rest. Pharmacological treatment of pain and rest go along each other since following only one or the other may not be enough for pain relief.
Another approach to the treatment of pain has developed over the years which has shown promising evidence-based results and created whole new professional streams in the field of medical science. This approach focused on the development of pain management strategies based on physical activities or movements contrary to rest. Exercise is one of the main components of these pain management programs which may or may not be combined with various other techniques such as messages, application of heat and cold packs, and therapies such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy etc.
Allowing your body to rest is necessary for healthy and active long life and theoretically, rest is known to have a positive impact when it comes to pain management but the fact that our bodies are built to move cannot be denied at the same time. It is medically proven that exercise is significantly effective for the treatment of lower back pain. Why is that so? Because exercise relieves tension in muscles, increases flexibility, and strengthens your core which helps to reduce risk of back pain.
Individuals of all ages are often recommended to visit Accredited Exercise Physiologists for the treatment of chronic pain. Exercise is widely accepted as the most effective approach to relief from pains which are caused by chronic health conditions, falls and injuries, and even post-surgery conditions relating to pain. Resting for short intervals or having breaks is equally essential for recovery from pain but too much rest may worsen your condition.
Our bodies produce chemicals called “Endorphins” which help to reduce stress and pain. Exercise helps development and release of Endorphins which interact with pain receptors in the brain and reduce your perception of pain.
Exercise does not necessarily mean hitting the gym and do heavy work out. It’s obvious if you are already going through pain you cannot just go the gym and start lifting heavy weights. Exercises involving simple physical movements such as walking, stretching or doing basic yoga can help a lot for pain relief. Apart from pain relief, there are tons of additional health benefits of exercise which you can enjoy along with treatment for pain relief. It controls weight, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease, reduces the risk of some cancers, strengthens bones and muscles, improves mental health and mood, improves the ability to perform daily activities and prevent falls, and increases chances of living longer.
Exercise for the treatment of Hypoalgesia has been extensively studied and endurance training and weight training have shown promising results for this treatment of this condition. Hypoalgesia is a condition which reduces your ability to feel pain. Administration of excessive pain killers is one of the ways through which hypoalgesia is induced. For example, if you are taking aspirin in excess it may diminish repeated headaches but can also induce Hypoalgesia.
Modern approach to pain management is rapidly shifting to physical activity and movement-based solutions. Physiotherapists, Accredited Exercise Physiologists, and fitness professionals are providing promising pain management programs which are proving that worthy results can be achieved through movement and exercise. It is still recommended that incorporating a combination of pharmacological treatment, exercise and rest is the ultimate bundle to get the best results for pain relief.