Tips to Begin the New Year Pain-Free
Tips to Begin the New Year Pain-Free
Have you suffered an ache or pain this past year? Wouldn’t it be nice to rid yourself of this pain? There is no reason to have the same pain this next year! Most Insurance benefits renew at the top of the year and there’s no better time to start working towards a pain free tomorrow.
If you struggle with pain, these tips can help keep your pain at bay:
- Stretch daily
- Get plenty of sleep
- Make time to exercise
- Schedule a free pain assessment with a physical therapist
Stretch Daily
If you are looking for a way to eliminate some of the pain in your life, daily stretching is a great place to begin. One suggestion is light aerobic activity to release tension and stress which can build up in the body, more specifically in the back. Daily stretching does not need to be sweat inducing. Simple, light stretches can do the job. Some of the stretches in a daily routine can include:
- Toe touches
- Shoulder shrugs
- Neck rolls
Get Plenty of Sleep
A great way to decrease that ache or pain is to make sleep a priority. Getting enough sleep allows the body to rest and repair any damage that may have occurred throughout the day. Without enough sleep, both the brain and the body can suffer. It is recommended that the average adult should get a minimum of at least six hours of sleep each night.
Make Time to Exercise
Exercise may seem like just the opposite thing to do when trying to avoid a certain ache or pain; however, exercise can help prevent pain. It is recommended to exercise at least three to four times each week. This does not mean hitting the gym for hours, it can be as simple as a brisk walk. Exercise is another way to release stress which may be mounting in the body.
Schedule a pain assessment
If you have chronic pain, your physical therapist can help you identify factors that may be leading to the prolonged pain. These factors may include faulty movement patterns, muscle weakness, areas of stiffness that prevent normal motion, previous injury and past events that may be contributing to your pain, fear, negative emotions, and other behaviors or social factors that can lead to long-term pain.
Your physical therapist will design a treatment program to fit your specific needs, which may include manual (hands-on) therapy, and gentle exercises to relieve pain.
Your treatment may emphasize education about the latest findings regarding pain, in addition to healing exercises and manual therapy. Research has demonstrated that positive changes occur in the brain after patients are educated about the purpose and causes of pain.