Three ways to stay active to help prevent chronic pain

One of the main reasons people suffer from chronic pain in their muscles and joints is because they live a sedentary lifestyle. In other words, they don’t move or exercise enough. We know exercising doesn’t sound the most fun for many people, but there are many activities you can do every day to help stay active and prevent pain. 

Here are three activities you should incorporate into your daily life:

1. Take the harder road

Most of us tend to take the most efficient path of travel when walking from point A to point B. For example, if you work on the third or fourth floor of your office building, you probably take the elevator, right? Instead, you should take the stairs to add more movement and exercise to your life. You can also park further away in the parking lot to add more walking, or if you live close enough, ride a bike to work.

2. Add movement around lunchtime

When it’s time for lunch, you should either walk to your favorite lunch spot or, if you pack your own lunch, take time to go for a walk outside before or after eating. This is not only good for you physically, but it can be a nice mental break when you’ve been working hard all morning.

3. Use a standing desk

Sitting for long periods of time leads to weak and stiff muscles, and it increases pressure on your joints. It’s important to move around throughout your day to help reduce and prevent muscle and joint pain, but another method you can try is to use a standing desk.

Standing burns more calories and also helps you avoid hunching over, which contributes to neck and shoulder pain. It also helps reduce strain on your lower back and hips.

There are plenty of options out there for hybrid standing/sitting desk setups, so you can alternate and not have to commit to either standing or sitting all day. 

Treat long-lasting or sudden pain with physical therapy

As active as you might be, you may still suffer from a condition or injury that causes long-lasting or sudden pain. In these circumstances, you need help from a health care professional like a physical therapist.

At Whatcom, our physical therapists specialize in treatments that help reduce and prevent pain. We can examine your condition and recommend a personalized course of treatment designed specifically to address your needs using methods like:

• Therapeutic exercise
• Stretching
• Joint mobilization
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Posture guidance and more

Are you ready to find a treatment for your pain that helps you get back to the active lifestyle you love? You can begin physical therapy without the need for a doctor’s referral. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.