Exercise and Chronic Pain
Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Balmain and Pymble work with many clients that experience chronic pain on a daily basis. In this blog we will discuss what chronic pain is and some helpful facts that may help understand it better.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is an ongoing pain usually lasting more than 6 months. This type of pain can exist even after an injury or condition has healed.
‘The amount of pain someone experiences does not correlate to the amount of tissue damage that has occurred’
6 Things You Didn’t Know About Chronic Pain?
- Pain is a normal experience and occurs when your brain thinks there is a threat.
- The amount of pain someone experiences does not correlate to the amount of tissue damage that has occurred.
- The pain someone experiences is reliant on the sensory information that is provided to the brain. There are danger sensors located all over the body.
- When pain persists the danger sensors become more sensitive. Over time the brain adapts to become better at producing pain and the danger sensors in the tissues contribute less and less to the danger message.
- The current research and management models for chronic pain recognises the importance of the sensitive danger signals and the fears, attitudes and beliefs someone has about pain. These beliefs can all impact someone’s pain experience.
- The right education and understanding of pain are critical to overcome it and return to life. Understanding that chronic pain won’t harm you further and that you need to retrain your brain’s experience will allow for an easier recovery out of the pain cycle.
If you are currently experiencing pain and would like some advice on how to best manage your chronic pain, then speak with our Accredited Exercise Physiologists by calling 1300 964 002.
References
Butler, D., Moseley, G. and Sunyata., 2013. Explain pain. Noigroup Publications.
Written by Daniel Elias Arciuli
