Pain- throbbing, aching, stabbing call it by any name is an alert for the deeper imbalance happening inside you. Few pains stay for a short period and can be easily managed, while others can linger for weeks or even months, causing needless suffering, disturbing the quality of life. But it’s not always that you need to live with the pain, just listening to your body is far better than just popping a pill or opting for a surgery to find relief from the pain.
However, there are few pain relief techniques that don't require an invasive procedure or even taking medication, which include:
1. Cold and heat therapy: These two tried-and-true treatments are still the cornerstone of relieving pain for many kinds of sprains and strains. If a homemade hot or cold pack does not do the trick, consult a physiotherapist or chiropractor for their way of hot and cold treatments, which penetrates deeper into the muscle and tissue and acts effectively.
2. Exercise: Physical activities play a vital role in interrupting the "vicious cycle" of pain and reduced mobility found in few chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Try moderate aerobic activities such as walking, cycling or swimming.
3. Physical therapy and occupational therapy: These two specialities are among the staunchest allies in the fight against pain. Physical therapists will guide you through a series of physical activities specially designed to preserve or improve strength and mobility of joints and bones. Occupational therapy increases your ability to perform daily activities in a way that they don't aggravate your pain.
4. Yoga and tai chi: These two practices involve breath techniques, meditation, and gentle movements to stretch and strengthen joint and muscles tissues. Many studies state that yoga and tai chi can help people manage pain caused due to headaches, arthritis or lingering injuries.
5. Mind-body techniques: These techniques include meditation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises that help to restore a sense of control over body and turn down the "fight or flight" response, which can worsen chronic stress, muscle tension and pain.
6. Biofeedback: This technique involves relaxation and breathing exercises with a biofeedback machine, which turns physiological data (such as heart rate, pulse and blood pressure) into visual cues like a graph, a blinking light, or an animation. Watching the visualizations gives you a degree of control over your own body's response to pain.
7. Music therapy: Few studies show that music can help relieve pain during and after surgery or childbirth, especially the classical music has proven to work well, but there is no harm in trying your favourite genre. Listening to any music can distract you from pain, discomfort and bring you great relief.
8. Massage therapy: Not just an indulgence, massage can alleviate the pain by working tension out of joints and muscle, relieving stress and anxiety, and possibly help to distract you from pain by a "competing" sensation that overrides pain signals.
Some of these pain relief techniques are probably best learned with the help of a professional, and it usually takes practice for these methods to become competent in helping alleviate pain. It is often advisable to work on pain coping techniques for about 30 minutes 3 times a week. With practice, you'll find that the relaxation and chronic pain control become stronger and last longer.
Get online consultation with our best physiotherapist, to know more about how to manage pain effectively. Log on to www.askapollo.com
If you’ve decided it’s time to begin an exercise program, running is one of the human body’s most natural ways to do so. In fact, studies have found that running promotes a person’s overall well-being of body, mind and soul. Running boosts one’s self-confidence, relieves stress, and helps you lose those unwanted pounds; while also toning your muscles and increasing physical endurance.
And, running has further been medically proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer! More positives related to running include the fact it can be done virtually anywhere, anytime, and that it is a relatively inexpensive form of exercise.
As a beginner, doctors recommend several important steps to follow when getting started, and as you gradually increase your running distance over time.
A Beginner’s Running Program Starts with the Shoes
Starting a new running habit doesn't have to be hard. This guide makes it easy to get started, get inspired and stay on track. When you consult a doctor, they will inform that running comfort starts with a good pair of shoes. Make sure that they are specified for running, and that the shoes are not too loose or tight. Ideally, they need to be a little larger than your dress or casual pairs, so that they don’t “heel slip”, and fit securely and comfortably in the midfoot area.
