Cardio Training Can Help Manage Your Pain

Pain can be caused by a number of problems and conditions, and many of them can be eased with regular cardio exercise. For many conditions, such as arthritis and other joint pain, stiffness is often a major contributor to the pain. With exercise on a regular basis, some of that stiffness can be alleviated. The movement of the joints with cardio activity can relieve both stiffness and inflammation, thus leading to a reduction in your pain.

Conditions like fibromyalgia cause consistent pain and fatigue, but staying still isn’t the answer. For those with fibromyalgia, being sedentary can make the symptoms worse. Getting a cardio workout every day can ease symptoms, help with stiffness, and help control the weight gain that often causes more complications. Walking at a mild to moderate pace is a helpful exercise for those with this condition.

Learn what cardio training can help manage your pain!

START SLOWLY

One reason that you may have avoided cardio is because your pain has prevented you from wanting to try it. If you aren’t used to working out and start with vigorous exercises, you may pull a muscle or injure yourself. The best practice is to start at a slow pace and work your way to a faster one. Walking is a perfect exercise for many people because it is relatively low impact and can be done indoors or outdoors. Work up to brisk walking and then power walking to keep raising your heart rate as your workouts progress.

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

Back pain, knee pain, and other forms of pain that can make exercise difficult and make it harder to get in a good workout. However, there are other low impact ways to get in a cardio workout outside of walking. Working out in a pool can help to raise your heart rate and fight pain without making joints ache. There are also exercise machines like gliders that don’t rely on stepping movements. If you have mobility problems, consider using workout equipment that allows you to sit. Even try doing aerobic moves on the floor. If you are moving, you are improving no matter what kind of exercise you are doing.

KEEP IT UP

It may take time to find the exercise pace and time frame that will best help with your pain. If you don’t notice a difference after a few sessions, try a faster pace or add a few more minutes to your workout. Try different exercises to keep yourself interested in moving and willing to work out regularly.

Need help determining your workout routine while managing your pain? At Alliance Spine and Pain Centers, we are proud to take a comprehensive and highly progressive approach to healing and pain management that allows us to treat each patient’s pain effectively. To learn more about methods to reduce pain, give us a call at 770-929-9033 or visit us here to schedule a pain management consultation if you have anymore questions about what cardio training can help manage your pain.