When movement is painful, it is logical to do less. However, continuing to move is actually important for chronic pain. This does not mean pushing yourself beyond your limits, but rather that your body needs movement to remain resilient.
Why stopping exercise often doesn't help
Moving less may sometimes seem pleasant temporarily, but in the long run, muscles, fitness, and load-bearing capacity can actually decline. As a result, daily activities can start to feel increasingly difficult.
What does exercise do for chronic pain?
Targeted movement helps to:
- to maintain muscle strength and fitness
- to regain confidence in movement
- to make the body resilient again
- to perform daily activities easier
In addition, exercise often helps reduce tension and stress.
How do you build up physical activity again?
With chronic pain, exercise is all about pacing. Not too much at once, but building up step by step.
Important regarding this:
- alternate activity and recovery
- build up gradually
- listen to signals from your body
- focus on regularity instead of intensity
Moving without a perfect picture
The goal is not to move perfectly, but to regain confidence in what your body can handle.
How does physiotherapy help?
At Fysi, we guide you in building up your physical activity in a way that suits your situation. Together, we look at what is feasible and how you can stay active safely.
For some people, it helps to move regularly and with insight in an accessible way and under supervision, alongside physiotherapy. This can be done with Fysi Balance. Together, we will look at how you can stay active in a responsible way, tailored to your capacity and goals.