Movement may exacerbate your aching muscles and joints; nonetheless, exercise is an excellent way to treat chronic pain. Simply put, working out is helpful because it allows your body to maintain strong fitness, lowering pain by improving the body’s functionality. Plus, regular activity helps in the prevention of mood disorders and obesity – both of which can develop in patients with chronic pain conditions.
Patients are often unsure of how to respond to pain signals. What is the distinction between good pain and bad pain when exercising? What is delayed onset muscle soreness? Let’s answer those questions and look at specific advice for patients with joint pain.
What distinguishes good pain from bad pain?
Anyone who has participated regularly in athletics knows that some degree of discomfort is an expectation of training. Indeed, in order for the muscles to become stronger, they have to be tested and put under stress. When the muscle is stressed, it is accompanied by a mild burning sensation, caused by a buildup of lactic acid. This feeling is what is sometimes called “good pain.” It is temporary and no longer experienced once you have completed your workout.
“Bad pain,” on the other hand, occurs when bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, or tendons in your body are overloaded. Only able to respond positively to exercise when it is increased gradually, these structures will fail when they are stressed too quickly; they may also become damaged from ongoing high levels of stress. When any of your body’s components are overburdened, the result is “bad pain.”
What is delayed onset muscle soreness?
You may feel pain in the form of soreness in the hours or days following exercise. This condition, called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), is essentially your body telling you that it has been challenged. If it continues for more than a couple days, your workout was probably excessive. Light exercise, such as a gentle swim or walk, can alleviate the pain of DOMS, bolster circulation, and enhance flexibility.
Joint pain and exercising
For those with osteoarthritis and other joint pain conditions, it is common to experience mild discomfort when you first start moving. If pain is moderate to severe in the knees or elsewhere before exercise, try routines that place less stress on affected areas. If you ever feel moderate or severe pain while exercising, though, stop immediately.
Are you experiencing pain while exercising?
At Flexogenix, we provide options that eliminate the need for surgery and restore normal joint function. Contact us today to see if our treatments are a good fit for you!
