Everybody knows that regular exercise is good for them. Some of the benefits – weight loss, appearance, performance – are somewhat obvious. Dick Van Dyke has a great quote on this topic; “In my 30’s, I exercised to look good. In my 50’s, to stay fit. In my 70’s, to stay ambulatory. In my 80’s, to avoid assisted living. Now in my 90’s, I’m just doing it of pure defiance.”
To summarize some benefits of exercise, here’s a collection of articles from around the web.
- Medline: Benefits of Exercise
- Mayoclinic: 7 Benefits of Physical Activity
- Forbes: 6 Science-Backed Ways Exercise Benefits The Body And Brain
- Piedmont: How Exercise Helps Balance Hormones
And there’s thousands (millions?) more. Information regarding how exercising helps the body is easily available for everybody. You can probably find an article showing how exercise helps with just about anything (for example, here’s such an article, but it is a scientific article so it’s not a smooth read). It shouldn’t surprise anyone to know that just moving your body can help with chronic pain as well.
The various effects of exercise significantly impact the centers that contribute to pain. For example, exercise modifies how cortisol (the “stress hormone”) is produced and used in the body. High levels of cortisol over a chronic period can lead to increased pain. Exercise also reduces perception of stress, which can further impact cortisol levels. There are tons of other physiological effects exercise has on pain.
The highlight here is, of course, to encourage you to move regularly. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, exercising regularly can help reduce that pain. Find a form of exercise you like – yoga, running, biking, weight lifting, sports, walking, hiking – and aim for an average of 30 minutes a day. If you sit often throughout the day, consider bumping that time up to a 45 minute per day average.
If your pain is stopping you from exercising, see a physical therapist. They can help you figure out how to engage in exercise so you can better manage your health and enjoy what you enjoy doing!
Have questions? Feel limited in what you’re able to do? The staff at Limitless Physical Therapy in Eugene, OR can show you how to discover your future without limits.
***The above information, including text, images, and all other materials, is provided for educational purposes only, and not as a replacement or supplement to professional medical advice. Please contact a certified healthcare professional or your primary physician for any personal concerns.