12/11/2022
Did you know you can help decrease pain with regular exercise?
We all know all know the benefits of exercise, but it can be difficult to convince ourselves to exercise when we are in pain. However, not exercising can actually contribute to increased pain and prolonged symptoms.
Let’s first look at pain from central sensitization. If you have had a spinal cord injury, stroke, or another neurological injury or disease, you may be familiar with “neurogenic pain.” This pain is very real.
However, even though you might feel it in your leg or your shoulder, it is not due to an injury in that area. It’s coming from your nervous system, and that is central sensitization. People who have not had a neurological injury can also develop this type of pain. They can have an abnormally heightened sensitivity to pain and even touch. This pain may be localized, or it can be felt throughout the body.
Another form of pain is from the musculoskeletal system, and stems from imbalances of strength pulling on joints and joint structures. Your skeleton is built to be supported by your muscles. If muscles on one side of a joint are pulling more than the muscles on the other side of that same joint, this can trigger the pain receptors in that joint. This muscular imbalance can come from any neurological diagnosis, as they all cause weakness. But it can also start with an injury to a muscle or joint that results in a different movement pattern.
If you twist your ankle and start limping, you are walking differently than the body was designed to walk. The muscles on the leg you are using less will get weak while the muscles on the side you’re relying on are getting stronger. This can lead to back pain (since the bigger muscles used for walking attach to the lower spine.) This same situation can be applied anywhere in the body.
When you have the central sensitization pain, it can impact your movement patterns, and lead to these muscular imbalances! Now you have two sources of pain…
But the GREAT news is that EXERCISE can treat both types of pain!
EXERCISE HELPS DECREASE PAIN
Ten to twenty years ago a person experiencing back pain would most commonly be advised bed rest and immobilization of the back. Research within the past 10 years has shown that inactivity weakens the muscles that support the spine and, if continued too long, can prolong recovery or even make certain conditions worse.
Exercise, on the other hand, increases muscle flexibility and strength and promotes healing by increasing blood flow to the injured site. Healthy muscles provide protection to bones and joints.
Physical Therapists and are healthcare professionals that use their passion for exercise, knowledge, expertise and the skills related to the movement system in order to optimize movement, promote health and welmlness, mitigate the progression of impairments, and prevent the development of (additional) disability. The guiding principle of the new vision is “identity,” which can be summarized as “The physical
therapy profession will define and promote the movement system as the foundation for optimizing movement to improve the health of society.” Recognition and validation of the movement system is essential to understand the structure, function, and potential of the human body. As currently defined, the “movement system” represents the collection of systems (cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, integumentary, nervous, and musculoskeletal) that interact to move the body or its component parts. By better characterizing physical therapists as movement system experts, we seek to solidify our professional identity within the medical community and society. Physical therapists are responsible for evaluating and managing an individual's movement system across the lifespan to promote optimal development; diagnose impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions; and provide interventions targeted at preventing or ameliorating activity limitations and participation restrictions.
PROPER EXERCISE TECHNIQUE
Physical Therapists are experienced in modification exercise techniques that isolate the muscle or muscle groups that increases the effectiveness of an exercise. Physical Therapists are also excellent at verbally instructing individuals on the proper techniques for performing each exercise in the individualized exercise program. Physical Therapists strive to continually improve their exercise techniques, learning new ones as they come out, and scrutinizing new fads. The therapist will also cover posture and movement exercises, suggesting improvements for individuals that provide added protection for the spine. Living with pain is difficult. However, taking prescription medication just masks the pain. It does not address the source.
Wouldn’t you rather try to decrease the actual pain so that you can decrease the amount of drugs you have to take?
Remember that these pills have their own side effects…
Physical therapists can help you decrease pain with modified exercise techniques. But be aware that the fix will not happen over night. Pills often seem easy because they take effect quickly. Your body needs to make adjustment to heal over time, and you need to give it a chance to do so.”
Kristin McNealus, ATP, DPT, MBA, Doctor Certified Physical Therapist & the Founder of Every Body Fitness Online - https://scitotalfitness.com/about-us/kristin-mcnealus-dpt/
Do you have chronic pain?
Want to decrease your pain at home with a physical therapist on-demand?
If yes, then Every Body Fitness Online is your pain relieving solution!
Every Body Fitness Online is an Physical Therapy website developed by Kristin McNealus, ATP, DPT, MBA, a Doctor Certified Physical Therapist, that provides access to specialized adaptive exercise training videos on-demand. The workouts, led by a Physical Therapist, offers adaptive techniques for participants with physical limitations. Subscribers can exercise at home sitting down or standing up, can use adaptive exercise equipment if needed (but not required), like a yoga ball or a chair for extra help with balance during the workouts. Wheelchair users can even ask a family member or a caregiver to assist them during the workouts if needed.
Our Physical Therapists use their passion for exercise, extensive knowledge and training to provide participants with safe, yet challenging workouts that are guaranteed to help improve overall fitness, health and wellbeing.
It’s important to check with your doctor and make sure it’s safe for you to start a new exercise program.
Check out this videoclip below “Exercising With Pain” by Kristin McNealus, ATP, DPT, MBA, and Founder of Every Body Fitness Online
F.A.S.T. CLASS
Fitness And Strength Training + Cardio Class
https://youtu.be/bYNaVq6p3bw
B.A.M. CLASS
Balance And Mobility Class
https://youtu.be/FiYlgD3yQgg
YOGA CLASS
SomaSense Yoga Class
https://youtu.be/nHFVG8TvyD4
Visit our website for more information or if you would like to sign up for a fitness program by clicking on the link down below www.ebfitnessonline.com
/Rights :Life ,INC &DanaReeveFoundation Injury and Disease (SCI), Inc After Spinal Cord Injury [SCI] Resource -Australia&NewZealand (SCI)Connection -Suppor ll
https://youtu.be/o_R1cK-7rlk
Do you live with pain? I am sure you have been told that exercise will help, but when moving hurts, the last thing you want to do is workout.... well, check ...
