Believe
it or not, regular exercies maybe the new prescription for alleviating
the discomfort of chronic pain. When the benefits of movement
and the drawbacks of inactivity are compared, the advantages
are quite lucid.
When an individual
is overwhelmed by pain, exercise is last recourse a person may
consider; however, it may offer more relief than not. A regular
fitness program represents a versatile arsenal against the pangs
of chronic pain.
For instance, inactivity
may pose a myriad of risks. During inactivity, all muscles weaken,
including the heart. As a result, they will not work effectively.
The susceptibility of elevated blood pressure, diabetes and
high cholesterol increases. Not to mention,
inactivity leads to stress, fatigue, and anxiety.
Years ago, physicians
would prescribe bed rest as a means of healing the body. Today,
medical science has found the opposite to be true. As long as
the body is limited to rest, it is more prone to become de-conditioned
—contributing to chronic pain.
On the contrary,
movement offers many physical and health benefits. When the
body is in motion, it triggers the body to release endorphins.
Endorphins are beneficial chemicals that have the ability to
impede pain signals from being transmitted to the brain. Additionally,
endorphins help ease stress and anxiety.
In the opinions of
certain medical experts, these endorphins act as natural pain
relievers.
Restful sleep is another advantageous to exercising, because
it innately reduces stress hormones from interrupting a good
night’s rest.
Moreover, activity
enhances, the body’s strength. When the body is stronger, the
more relief it can provide for the bones and cartilage. More
importantly, through a regular fitness program, flexibility
is improved, alleviating the propensity of chronic pains and
aches.