#SugarBalancedLiving

It’s tempting to lie in bed and do nothing when you’re in pain - you have no motivation and the soreness certainly doesn’t make moving feel like a good idea. But for certain types of pain, this can actually be the worst thing you can do. Actually, exercise and movement can help to loosen up muscles and lubricate joints - helping to reduce pain caused by conditions like sciatica, arthritis and tendonitis. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from these conditions try to incorporate a quality anti-inflammatory cream which will help alleviate symptoms so that you can remain active. Exercise can also flood the body with feelgood endorphins that help reduce pain signals.

Of course, you do need to be careful as to which exercises you do, as certain injuries or conditions could be made worse if you’re pushing too hard. So below are just a few tips on how to fight aches and pains with exercise!

Talk to your doctor

When dealing with chronic pain, it’s important to talk to your doctor to find out which activities they recommend and which activities they don’t. High-impact exercises like running and jumping are typically not recommended for many types of injuries and conditions, but sometimes gentle walks or other forms of cardio could be okay. Similarly, if you’ve recently had an operation on your abdomen, any type of core exercise may be off-limits until it’s healed but light yoga could help. A doctor should be able to tell you exactly which exercises to avoid and for how long, and then you can base your movement plan on that.

Get some physical therapy

Physical therapists can help to provide rehabilitation - which includes recommending exercises to help with your condition. If a hip injury has prevented you from doing a lot of exercise, a physical therapist may be able to recommend exercises to help you get your hip moving again without aggravating it. Doctors will often recommend a physical therapist when recovering from an injury or condition - make sure you find one you feel comfortable with, and if you don’t need one, that you are following the recommended exercises for your pain and aches.

Go for a walk

Walking is a safe form of exercise when coping with many forms of illness and injury. It is low impact, which means that it does not put strain on the joints like running. Walking can also get blood flowing all around the body and release endorphins, helping to reduce pain caused by many health problems. On top of this, walking is easy to fit into any daily schedule - simply walking to your local shop could be a great form of exercise. Plus, being outdoors is always a mood booster!

Try swimming

For most injuries and conditions, swimming is a safe form of exercise as the buoyancy of the water can help to take pressure off of joints. If you’re lucky enough to live near a beach, swimming in the sea can also be beneficial for many skin conditions due to the salt in the water. So go ahead and ask your doctor as to whether swimming is a suitable form of exercise for your condition!

Do some yoga

Yoga is another low impact form of exercise that is recommended for dealing with many chronic pain conditions. Not only is it easy on the muscles and joints, but it’s great for the mind - helping many people to mentally overcome stress and pain. Similar forms of exercise like pilates and tai chi can also be great alternatives. Consider looking into local classes to attend, or try online classes (I love yin yoga from Yoga with Kassandra on Youtube!)

*contributed post