Can exercise help relieve pain?

Many of us try to avoid exercise because it is painful to our body. But what we don’t realize is that, by restricting the body’s movement, we are making pain conditions worse.
 
Inactivity in the body may result in muscle degeneration. Exercising helps keep muscles strong and flexible, and prevents pain from afflicting them. Exercise enhances the brain’s production of seratonin, which assists flexibility in the muscles. Seratonin is also known to improve the mood and allows the mind to relax, and helps the brain to reduce the perception of pain. It also boosts the release of endorphins which are substances known to fight pain in the body. 

For arthritic patients, there are three forms of exercises that can help alleviate the pain. These are flexibility workouts including various forms of stretches, cardiovascular or aerobic workouts including walking, cycling, and water exercises, and strength conditioning, including isotonic or isometric workouts.

It is important to remember that all workouts do not work for everyone. Exercises should be designed according to the shape of the body, and the severity of the pain. It is therefore necessary to consult with fitness experts to decide which exercise routine is right for the body type. Nevertheless, exercising is a healthy choice whether we are in pain or not and thus should be performed regularly for a fit and vigorous body.