Chronic pain can stem from a number of factors, including traumatic injury and disease. There are treatments and therapies available, such as exercise and heat physiotherapy. Understanding what these two therapies can do for you will help you make wise choices when it comes to your health and wellness. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges, but then again, you can eat and enjoy both. The same goes for exercise and heat physiotherapy. You can do one or the other or gain even greater benefits by combining both.
Understanding Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is defined as constant pain caused or felt by an individual as a result of injury or disease processes such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, osteoporosis or bone and joint injury. According to the American Chronic Pain Association, remaining as active as possible can help maintain strength and flexibility and help reduce and relieve pain. Ongoing chronic pain causes frustration, depression and tension for some and may negatively affect work, social interactions and personal relationships. Finding ways to deal with chronic pain requires patience and a number of different approaches, from exercise to heat physiotherapy.
Heat Physiotherapy
Heat physiotherapy is combination of stretches, massage, range of motion exercises and manipulation combined with heat in the form of heated therapy beads, heated stones or traditional heating pads. Physiotherapists and physiotherapy techniques are often performed as a pain relief technique following injury or for a wide range of medical conditions, according to PhysioAdvisor.com, a resource for professional physiotherapists.
Benefits of Heat Physiotherapy
Heat has long been used to relieve pain and tension in muscles and to help relieve muscle spasms and aid and accelerate the healing process. Do not apply heated packs, pads or beads for more than 30 minutes at a time, but you can use them several times a day in conjunction with massage or muscle and joint manipulation to help maintain range of motion and flexibility and to loosen and stretch tight or contracted muscles.
Benefits of Exercise
Exercise is not only good for cardiac and pulmonary function, but may help maintain function and range of motion and mobility in those diagnosed with chronic pain. Depending on the cause of the pain, exercise can help you stay flexible, keep your body toned and strong, and avoid obesity, according to Karniah Walker of SpineUniverse. It also helps you lift and elevate your mood through the release of endorphins, notes MayoClinic.com.
Types of Exercise for Chronic Pain
The types of exercise you should and can do will depend on your current medical and physical condition. Most people can tolerate walking or riding a stationary bike, but speak with your doctor about duration and intensity. You may also consider other low-impact exercise such as swimming, yoga or tai chi or Pilates, again depending on your condition. Strength or weight training helps keep muscles strong and toned so they offer better bone support and helps burn calories to keep your weight under control.
