You may think that you have too much pain to be physically active. You might not know how to be active with your limitations. Or you may worry that being more active will make your pain worse. These are all valid concerns but being more active will eventually have the opposite effect. In the long-run, regular physical activity will help you manage your pain.
Benefits of regular physical activity include:
- Decrease pain intensity
- Improve physical function and energy level
- Improve sleep quality
- Improve mood and cognitive function (ability to think and remember)
- Better balance and mobility
There are 4 broad types of structured physical activity that have been shown to benefit mental and physical health. Some types of activities, such as Yoga or Tai Chi, combine elements of several of these categories.
- Aerobic: Sustained physical activity that stimulates and strengthens the heart and lungs
- Strength: Increases muscle size and strength
- Flexibility: Keeps muscles healthy and increases range of motion in the joints
- Neuromotor: Improves agility, balance, coordination, and gait.
All of these types of activity have been studied in people with chronic pain conditions. Different types of activity may have slightly different benefits, but there is not a best type of physical activity for people with chronic pain.
Our advice: pick an activity you enjoy, try to incorporate activities from a couple of these categories, and “start low, go slow.”