5 Healthy Ways to Manage Pain

At our HealthMax Physiotherapy Clinics, we are constantly searching innovative, evidence-based techniques in an effort to reduce symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, chronic pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis and much more. All of these painful conditions may not have a cure but that does not mean that they cannot be treated. Pain is difficult to deal with because it disrupts your quality of life, alters your mood and creates a feeling of helplessness. Pain is your mind’s response to a disruption in your body and it can be excruciatingly uncomfortable but it could definitely be treated and managed. Here are 5 healthy ways to manage pain.

Exercise

Unfortunately, people believe a myth that exercising while in pain will hurt joint health and intensify the pain. However, this is false. Exercising is an activity which has been proven to show a reduction in pain. Studies have shown that exercise may reduce joint pain by as much as 43% according to the Journal of Rheumatology. If you find yourself in plenty pain then it’s important to remember to keep those muscles active in an effort to reduce the pain.

Diet 

Many people are unaware that pain could be managed by reducing inflammation in the body. One way to reduce inflammation is to eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties. Delicious foods such as apples, cherries, berries, nuts and soy contain compounds which are anti-inflammatory and it may reduce pain.

Acupuncture

At our physiotherapy clinics, we have acupuncture providers who are trained in applying acupuncture, a treatment option for those in pain. Acupuncture derives from Eastern Medicine and involves applying needles to pressure points to increase circulation and relieve the body of pain and stress. This technique does not cause any pain but instead decreases it.

Yoga

If you’re looking to reduce pain then Yoga might be exactly what you need. Yoga is all about breathing which will help your body relax and increase circulation. These elements are integral for pain reduction which is why many studies have shown that yoga can be an effective method to treating chronic pain.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is known to intensify the symptoms associated with chronic pain according to the Mayo Clinic which is why you should always stay hydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day because it may ease the pain associated with headaches, chronic conditions, and back pain.

This post was brought to you by HealthMax Physiotherapy, a group of physiotherapy clinics located in Toronto and all across the GTA. If you’d like to find out more about how you could manage pain, or would like to be treated for arthritis and other conditions, please visit our website or call (416) 431-4000. A special thanks to Erin and the Vintage Fitness team for letting us talk to you guys!