Why early return to exercise is key to recovery.
There is a large body of research demonstrating an early and careful return to exercise is essential to recovering from injury. Exercise based therapy is helpful for a few key reasons. Firstly, moving the affected area, whether it be your low back or a shoulder prevents joint stiffness. When we minimize this stiffness from setting in, it is much easier getting the area back to its normal movement patterns and in the big picture getting you back to doing what you both want to do and need to do. Secondly, early and frequently moving the affected area in a safe way helps reduce pain and significantly reduces the likelihood of long-term disability.
When we move, the nerve endings that sense movement and tension send signals up the spinal cord to the brain, these signals follow the same neurologic paths as pain. So, if we are using those pathways for movement information, we can help quiet the signals being sent by the pain neurons. The result is the brain receives less intense pain signals and you feel less pain. This is the same mechanism that allows pain relieving gels such as Biofreeze or a TENs unit reduce pain.
Finally, early return to activities provides confidence in what you can do comfortably, and what you may need to work up to. At the clinic, our focus is to develop a plan helping you clear the path from where you are, towards what you both want and need to do. When you have those tools, you will feel more confident in ways you can help yourself through the healing process and how to work through possible flare-ups in the future.
Wrapping up, returning to activity as soon as reasonably able provides three essential keys to recovery.
1. Moving the affected area reduces the likelihood of long-term stiffness.
2. Movement reduces pain and likelihood of abnormal sensitization.
3. Early, guided return to activity provides you with the confidence that you can and will overcome your pain both now and in the event of a future flare-up.
Remember, it is normal to feel apprehensive about moving those injured areas. We are here looking forward to helping you develop a plan to recover. Call the office to schedule an appointment.
Liebenson, C. (2007). Rehabilitation of the Spine (2nd Edition). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
