Exercise can be an effective form of pain relief for various types of pain, including chronic pain conditions such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and low back pain. Regular physical activity can help to increase strength, flexibility, and range of motion, which can reduce pain and improve function. Exercise also releases endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body, which can help to reduce pain perception.
Aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling, and dancing are good options to improve cardiovascular fitness and can help to reduce chronic pain. Strength training exercises such as weightlifting, resistance band training and bodyweight exercises can help to build muscle and bone strength and can improve balance and stability which can help to reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
Yoga, tai chi, and other forms of mind-body exercise can also be helpful in managing pain. These exercises focus on breathing, stretching, and relaxation techniques, and can help to improve flexibility, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being.
Now we obviously know all of this, and it’s our biggest challenge to educate people on the benefits of exercise. Now this recent paper within the BJSM has significantly helped our cause by concluding that exercise alone is as effective as paracetamol and NSAID’s for knee and hip OA.
This study concluded that –
‘Exercise is effective for pain and function due to knee and hip OA. Its effect is similar to that of oral NSAIDs and paracetamol at short (4weeks), median (8weeks) and long-term (24 weeks) follow-up’
However, they also note that further work is required to build on this finding, suggesting that
‘This conclusion is based mainly on indirect comparisons. Further direct evidence for OA outcomes and the long-term benefits of exercise over oral NSAIDs and paracetamol for other outcomes such as comorbidities are still needed’
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/early/2023/01/02/bjsports-2022-105898.full.pdf
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