Effect of movement on pain

Author Dorottya Sándor | 2020.05.19.

Exercise and targeted exercises are an important tool for conservative pain management if you have a musculoskeletal complaint. For complaints such as low back pain or knee pain, the key to recovery lies in movement.

Positive effects of movement

Exercise has many positive effects on the body and on the ability to experience and overcome pain. Through movement therapy, a person with pain can be reassured that they can still do certain activities despite their problem and that they are not causing further discomfort by moving. They do not need to feel limited by pain! A exercise helps to relieve stress and reduce or even avoid aggravated complaints.
Movement can also improve depression and low mood. These latter factors can also affect the course of recovery, but they can also be triggered by pain and a sedentary lifestyle.

How should I move if I have pain due to a musculoskeletal complaint?

Sometimes pain and musculoskeletal complaints occur during movement. A common reaction is to stop moving or to compensate for the movement. Movement, as explained earlier, is an important tool to help us carry out our everyday tasks. Think about when you pull your back and your movements become tight and difficult because of the pain. Restricted movement due to pain is normal if it lasts for a short time (24-48 hours), but can be harmful if it lasts longer. A sedentary lifestyle can have additional negative effects that slow down recovery.

Physiotherapy is also exercise

Physiotherapy is an important part of effective movement therapy. Special exercises led by a physiotherapist can have a positive effect on pain and improve function. If you can achieve adequate pain relief and improve everyday movements, quality of life will be greatly improved, and the positive effects mentioned earlier can also be seen.

Movement and pain

How we think about pain can be a crucial factor in determining the success of a therapy. For example, if we are aware that pain is part of recovery at some level and does not cause further injury, and we know that movement is beneficial, then the pain that occurs during movement will be less than when we fear further injury from movement. If we fear movement and the pain it causes, we are more likely to develop chronic pain. During physiotherapy, a specialist can help you to get the right amount of exercise and overcome fear and then pain. It is key that rehabilitation is led by a professional who is aware of the exercises, tasks and instructions that can be used to optimise the recovery process. If you have limited mobility due to pain, it is important to seek help as early as possible, as the right advice can certainly improve your quality of life!

Movement and recovery

In the vast majority of cases of musculoskeletal complaints, movement is one of the keys to recovery. But it also takes a certain amount of courage to dare to start moving. Be patient with yourself and choose a form of exercise that is close to you, and helps us to heal. Remember that a certain amount of pain is normal in post-injury recovery, if managed correctly, it will help our recovery.