Flourish eMAG Apr 25 - Flipbook - Page 25
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Ongoing pain, sometimes referred to as chronic pain or persistent pain, impacts every
part of our lives. Similarly, every part of our lives can also in昀氀uence pain. In other words,
although pain is felt in the body, it is in昀氀uenced by a mixture of biological, psychological,
and social factors, all pulling on the pain volume knob.
This means chronic pain can be complex and confusing. Adding exercise to the mix
introduces another layer of complexity—but it can also bring relief and hope. This often
raises questions such as:
•
Why are doctors telling me to exercise?
•
How does exercise help with pain?
•
What is the best type of exercise?
•
If it’s safe, why does exercise sometimes increase my pain?
CHRONIC PAIN
AWARENESS
hronic pain affects approximately 3.6 million
Australians and is characterised as pain that
persists beyond the expected healing time of
an injury. It occurs when the signal between
the site of pain and the brain is delayed, disrupted, or
abnormal due to mis昀椀ring nerves.
C
National Pain Week was established by Chronic Pain
Australia to raise awareness and encourage open
conversations about chronic pain.
Although exercise is widely recommended by health
and medical practitioners for pain management, there
are still stigmas surrounding both the tool (exercise)
and the service (choice of health practitioner).
Physical activity is essential for human
health, and it can also be a powerful tool for managing
pain. There should be no barriers to accessing
something as fundamental as exercise.
Let’s explore some common questions about pain and
exercise to help break down these barriers.
