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From DestinationSpaVacations Fitness If you wake each day and go to bed each night with pain as a companion, it may be daunting to even consider adding anything new to your list of challenges. You may be thinking that it’s enough to just get through the day. But what if there were an element you could add to your life that would improve your self image, reduce depression, put you in a better mood and leave you feeling empowered? Even if you suffer from chronic pain – in fact, especially if you do - consider getting expert advice on starting an exercise program. Exercise offers myriad benefits to people living with pain, the greatest of which may be less of it. How exercise affects pain Exercise can have a definite positive influence on chronic pain. First, increased oxygen in the blood and the release of endorphins by the brain both help quell pain. Exercise also helps distract a mind that’s become preoccupied with pain. In addition, exercise helps reverse the loss of strength, flexibility and balance that often result from a long siege of chronic pain. Because it hurts to move, you may be moving less, even without realizing it, leaving your muscles diminished. Weakness, in turn, sets the stage for asymmetries in the body. A proper fitness program will help strengthen muscles around painful areas, particularly joints. Stronger muscles help support aching knees, ankles, shoulders or spines, reducing pain. Exercise can solve other problems associated with chronic pain. Regular, individualized workouts can improve balance, posture and alignment and increase flexibility and range of motion. Over time, added strength and symmetry can result in greater overall mobility, and may well give you back some of the freedom you once enjoyed. Being in better shape also helps prevent future injury. An exercise program can mean a return to functionality. If you have given up favorite activities because of pain, the relief available through increased strength, balance and mobility can enable you to return to work, travel comfortably again, hike your favorite trails, work in your garden or pursue your favorite hobby. Motivation and monitoring Often the fear is that exercise will add to the pain you already have. Properly done, exercise should create no added pain, either during or after exertion. The expert advice of a physical therapist and, ideally, an exercise physiologist will ensure that you’re doing the right things in the right way. If you live with moderate or severe osteoporosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, orthopedic problems, neurological disease, balance disorders or the aftermath of a stroke, you can benefit from an individualized fitness program. (People with other concerns ranging from diabetes to depression have also been shown to benefit from moderate, regular physical activity - studies have shown that even people with congestive heart failure can exercise, and that they feel better and live longer when they do.) The trick is to do what the body is capable of, build slowly, and rest appropriately. “Motion is lotion.” Knee, ankle or shoulder problems, and chronic back or neck pain can often be greatly improved or even eliminated by following an appropriate exercise regimen. A safe, well thought-out exercise program can improve and possibly alleviate pain and tightness, as well as improve biomechanical alignment. Ongoing evaluation Into the swim The rest is up to you. Imagine going to sleep each night and waking each day looking forward to your favorite activities and feeling better because you’ve worked at making yourself healthier, stronger and less burdened by pain. That’s real achievement. http://www.canyonranch.com/ © Copyright 2008 |
