Benefits of exercise

Benefits of exercise

Exercise is an important part of your pain management. Regular exercise can help improve your general fitness and help you to return to the activities you enjoy or need to do. 

Research shows that exercise benefits your health and wellbeing. You, like many people who have ongoing pain, may have reduced your activity to try to relieve your symptoms. Often movement is reduced or avoided because of concerns of causing re-injury or further damage. 

Unfortunately, this inactivity leads to stiffness, muscle weakness, low mood and reduced fitness levels. This is known as de-conditioning. In the long term this reduces your ability to perform daily activities and enjoy yourself socially. It can be hard to break out of this vicious circle. 

There are many benefits to exercise. Initially exercise may cause an increase in your pain. However, if you exercise in a controlled and paced way the potential benefits are well worth the hard work. 

Useful links:

• https://mylivingwell.co.uk/physical-activity/ 
• https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/ 

There are many community-based programmes that can support you in improving your exercise and fitness tolerance:

There are many community-based programmes that can support you in improving your exercise and fitness tolerance: https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/about-us/our-impact/healthy-life/joint-pain-programme 

Free to access programme to help you self-manage your persistent pain and enable you to lead a more independent life: https://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/things-to-do  

Soak and Social 

The Soak and Social group below was originally set up for people living with Fibromyalgia, but we have since discovered that many other users enjoy and benefit from the warm water, and they are all welcome. 

Users book through Bromsgrove Sport and Leisure Centre, either online on the address below or the booking can be done at reception. 

www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/things-to-do/active-bromsgrove/health-exercise/soak-and-social/ 

Healthy Worcestershire Sessions 

Healthy Worcestershire is a new and exciting programme open to anyone over the age of 18 who lives, or is registered with a GP, in Worcestershire. 

Sessions take place across the county and provide information, activities, and advice on being more physically active, leading a healthy lifestyle, staying safe online, maintaining good mental health, and staying connected to your community.  Further information can be found at the website below or you can contact them on the details provided.   

www.healthyworcestershire.org.uk/our_venues/ 

Phone: 01905 928185 Email: [email protected] 

Other groups 

You can also visit the website below for further details of other groups which may be appropriate to help manage your pain with gentle activity. These groups are largely based across Redditch, but they are open to anyone that wants to attend, it doesn’t matter where they live. 

www.redditchbc.gov.uk/things-to-do/active-redditch/health-and-exercise/ 

If you would like further information, regarding the above please contact Hayley Gwilliam: 

Telephone: 01527 881404 

Email: [email protected]

https://www.highfieldshydro.org.uk/ – self-guided evening sessions in the hydrotherapy pool at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.