Does pain come knocking? You gotta read this latest science

​I was thinking of you this week as these news headlines came across my desk...

​So many people deal with pain on an ongoing basis and it can become one of the biggest barriers for them to move the way they want to and live their best lives.

Here's the thing, moving your body can actually HELP you with your pain levels.

Habitual physical activity has been shown to have a significant influence on pain tolerance in the general population. Studies have found that individuals who engage in regular physical activity have higher pain thresholds and are better able to tolerate pain compared to sedentary individuals.

Why?

It is believed a pain-inhibitory response is present immediately following an acute bout of exercise. It is referred to as exercise-induced hypoalgesia. Said simply, it is due to the release of endorphins during exercise, which are natural painkillers produced by the body.

Amazing!

And the super incredible part of it is you can move your body with the parts that are actually not bothering you with pain.

For example, you've got that pesky arthritic knee, rather than choosing to ride a stationary bike, maybe you decide to do some upper body resistance exercises instead. Or maybe your bumped shoulder is holding you back. Why not go take a walk instead where you can keep your arm swing to a minimum.

Your physiology will still give you that natural painkiller benefit regardless of which body part is moving!

In the latest research, it suggests that remaining physically active, becoming active, or boosting activity is linked to higher pain tolerance. Bottom line, to help avoid and manage persistent pain, it is critical to participate in some form of physical activity.

Need a place to start? Jump over to my Youtube channel to find a variety of ways to get your body moving today!​

Stay well and happy moving,

Lisa

P.S., If you love to read the data, here's the original scientific article.​

If you'd like the Coles' notes version, check out this article or this one or this one.