More than 1 in 5 adults in the United States deals with chronic pain in a given year. While increased physical activity can provide benefits for chronic pain sufferers, approaching it poorly can work against you.
Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, provides personalized treatments to help you lead a more active and comfortable life.
Consider the following ways to prepare your body for increased activity when you have long-lasting pain.
Before diving into a workout program or even easing into gentle movement, get checked out medically. Through a comprehensive exam, our team can determine whether your body can tolerate particular activities well, or we can suggest alternatives.
We can also recommend treatments that could make exercise more effective and feasible.
Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, your treatment plan may include:
We typically start with conservative measures, resorting to surgery only for severe and treatment-resistant symptoms.
An overall healthy lifestyle can help you move more comfortably, safely, and effectively. Changes we may recommend include:
Any one of these habits can help snowball your well-being in the right direction. For example, one study showed that eating primarily anti-inflammatory foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains enhances sleep quality. And the better you sleep, the less pain you’re likely to have.
These steps can also make weight control easier, which reduces strain on your body, making way for less pain.
Whether you’re brand new to exercise or are increasing your movement for the first time since your pain began, going slowly can help you go far.
Choose gentle, low-impact activities, especially if your chronic pain stems from arthritis. Start with a few minutes, and gradually work your way up to around 30 minutes most days.
When you’re doing cardiovascular activities like walking, jogging, or swimming, warm your body up with movement before stretching. A 5-10 minute warmup usually suffices.
Strength training prepares your body for increased activity, too. We can suggest specific exercises to strengthen affected body areas. If you have chronic back pain, for example, you may benefit from glute bridges, deadlifts, and planks. Keep in mind that proper form is crucial for staving off additional pain and injury.
To learn more about body care, exercise, and chronic pain or get started with individualized treatment, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment.
