Aerobic and strength exercises help with weight management and release endorphins to help relieve pain. In this video, Devi Nampiaparampil, MD, chief of pain management at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, suggests stretching can help too.
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Aerobic exercise helps with weight loss of course that can also help with pain relief especially in arthritis. More of aerobic exercises cause some changes in terms of mood at the release of endorphin, but also is helpful in terms of releasing patients natural pain killers. Other types of exercises let's say strengthening exercises can be helpful, especially for people who have back pain or arthritis pain.
Essentially if the muscles are stronger it protects the joints more, protects the discs, and also it takes some load off of those areas, instead the weight is being carried and the work is being done by the muscles, and finally flexibility exercises or stretching exercises can be helpful. There are some studies that show that flexibility actually correlates more with pain relief than other types of factors such as strength.
Exercises like stretching, yoga and pilates are great ways to relieve chronic pain, but it's important to make sure you're doing the right exercise for your condition. Get expert tips on the best exercise plan to soothe your chronic pain.
