We have moved! As of Monday 14 October 2024, Uplift Exercise Physiology is located at Unit 5/56 Industrial Drive Mayfield NSW 2304. The new clinic is more than twice the size of our former clinic, has multiple rooms, more and newer equipment, increased privacy, and significantly improved amenities. We can’t wait to welcome you to our new and improved space. Note: there is heaps of parking on Industrial Drive, or Accessible Parking via George Street. Team Uplift!
We are moving! The final day of services at Uplift’s current clinic will be 11 October 2024. From Monday 14 October, Uplift will relocate to Unit 5/56 Industrial Drive Mayfield NSW 2304. The new clinic is more than twice the size, has multiple rooms, more and newer equipment, increased privacy, and significantly improved amenities. We can’t wait to welcome you to our new and improved space. Team Uplift!

The Role of Exercise in Managing Chronic Pain

Role of Exercise in Managing Chronic Pain
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  • Age
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Cultural background
  • Genetics
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Nutrition
  • Obesity
  • Sedentary behaviours / physical activity levels

There are three primary types of pain including Nociceptive, Nociplastic and Neuropathic pain.

Nociceptive pain refers to pain arising from actual or perceived damage to non-neural tissue as a result of nociceptors activating (Patel & Sarantopoulos, 2023).

Nociplastic pain can be defined as pain that presents due to altered nociception despite
no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage resulting in the activation of peripheral nociceptors or evidence for disease or lesion of the somatosensory system causing pain (Buldy’s et al., 2023).

Neuropathic pain has been defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (2017) as pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system.

Many studies have demonstrated that through engaging in regular physical activity, it can assist in modulating pain levels, reduce the risk of developing chronic pain (Corte-Rodriguez et al., 2023) and improve associated symptoms of chronic pain, such as reduced psychological wellbeing, poorer sleep quality and reduced physical health.


There are many benefits related to engaging in regular physical activity for those with chronic pain including (ESSA, 2022):


1) Improved sleep quality: Sleep has been linked to higher levels of pain; however, physical activity has also been correlated to improved sleep. Therefore, participating in regular physical activity can assist in improving overall sleep quality, which can therefore promote improvements in pain levels.


2) Improved psychological wellbeing: Participating in physical activity results in the release of hormones including serotonin and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins. Subsequently, this results in an overall improved mood, anxiety and stress related symptoms. As mood and psychological wellbeing have been demonstrated to influence pain levels, participating in regular physical activity can assist in improving psychological wellbeing, therefore facilitating improvements in pain.


3) Increased tolerance to pain: Engaging in regular physical activity such as strength training allows the body to gradually build its tolerance to load and repetitive movements over time, which therefore allow for an increased capacity to re-engage in hobbies and activities of daily living that have been impacted by pain.


Exercise induced hypoalgesia: this term refers to a decrease in pain sensitivity as a result of participating in physical activity and it has been shown to occur due to the release of endogenous opioids which contributes to modulating pain (Koltyn et al., 2014). Both aerobic and resistance exercise have been correlated to promoting this effect (Rice & Nijs et al., 2022). Moreover, a single bout of exercise has been shown to produce short term improvements in pain in both healthy and chronic pain populations (Naugle et al., 2012). Whilst long-term participation in physical activity has been correlated to persistent reductions in pain sensitivity.

In individuals with chronic pain, it is important to engage in a graded physical activity program, focusing on gradually progressing load, exposure of movements and the intensity of exercise sessions. This can ensure that the risk of a ‘flare-up’ in pain is managed accordingly. Many different modalities of exercise have been found to benefit those who experience chronic pain including strength-based training, aerobic exercise, pool-based exercise and both high and low intensity exercise. The modality of exercise chosen should be individualised dependent on each individual’s presentation and goals.

The team at Uplift Exercise Physiology can assist each individual in implementing an individualised graded physical activity program that is tailored to goals, return to work requirements and injury presentations. We are able to provide education regarding pain management strategies, pacing strategies, exercises and pain expectations, all of which has been correlated to facilitating greater improvements in pain levels than engaging in exercise alone (Mittinty et al., 2018).

Written by Uplift Exercise Physiologist, Mykaila Walls

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