Are you not exercising because you hurt so much?

If you suffer from pain so intense you just want to crawl into bed and not move, please read on.  You probably  know that exercise is important for overall health, but did you know it is even more important for those who suffer from disease.  Exercise helps those with osteoarthritis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and so many other diseases and syndromes.  I don't teach the "no pain, no gain" method of exercise.  I consult with you, determine what your individual goals and health considerations are such as; any type of disease, syndrome or health limitations you may have and create a program specific to those needs.

I do believe that if you are suffering from pain and have a doctor's release, you will help relieve some of your pain by exercising regularly.  A professional, certified personal trainer can create an exercise program with the correct intensity and progressions depending on your fitness level, and medical issues.  When you first start an exercise regimen, you will probably reach your pain threshold very quickly.  Do not stop the program, do not give up.

Communication is key to success in your wellness journey.  You have to be very up front and honest about how you feel during the workout, and within the next few days.  Your trainer can adjust any of the exercises if needed.  There is a fine line between the amount of pain you experience and actually work through to start feeling the benefits of exercise.  Your relationship with your trainer is just as important as the one you have with your doctor.  It's hard to think that by continuing your program when you hurt so much, your body will start adjusting and adapting you will start to feel relief.

Choosing the right exercises will help a person with limitations without increasing the pain and risk of injury.  Working with a professional will help you focus on the exercises according to your medical issues.  Weight bearing exercises, strength training to build muscle, flexibility and mobility exercises to prevent falls are all a part of a well balanced program.

Years ago, doctors treated arthritis with rest.  "There's a huge body of literature demonstrating that keeping the hips and knees moving, and the muscles around the joints strong, contributes greatly to protecting the joints and staving off additional damage caused by arthritis," says Linda Arslanian, DPT, MS, director of rehabilitation services at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.