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Writer's pictureJohn Hayes Jr, MD

Exercise and Nerve Health



Exercise and Nerve Health

DID YOU KNOW?


Exercise and nerve health? Yes there is a significant connection! Physical activity can help you improve your nervous system health and overall well-being.


Studies have also shown that exercise helps health alleviate pain related to nerve damage by acting as an anti-inflammatory mechanism. Exercise causes cells to secrete anti-inflammatory proteins that help to suppress pain from inflammation.


Further, physical exercise has a neuroprotective effect on both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Living an active life by doing the following exercises will help you knock out nerve pain, setting you up for a healthier life.


AEROBIC EXERCISE

Aerobic exercise has immense benefits for the body and the brain. It reduces the risk of a lot of health conditions such as dementia, and heart disease, prevents stroke, lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels, improves the physical functioning of the body, and increases your life span.

Aerobic exercise also enhances cognitive performance and improves brain health.

Some examples of aerobic exercise include:


  • Running

  • Cycling

  • Swimming

  • Aerobics classes

  • Walking


The National Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week.


RESISTANCE TRAINING

Resistance training helps increase muscle strength by making the muscles work against a weight or force. Resistance training such as free weights, medicine balls or sandbags, suspension equipment, and weight machines, to mention but a few can help you prevent chronic conditions such as diabetes, depression, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, and back pain. It also reduces the risk of osteoporosis by increasing bone density and strength.


STRETCHING

Stretching increases muscle blood flow thereby reducing and totally alleviating nerve pain that occurs due to poor blood circulation. Stretching also decreases nerve stiffness. It decreases the stiffness of muscles and reduces the risk of injury


In conclusion, exercising can be a mood medicine. A recent study carried out on patients with peripheral neuropathy showed that when these patients were given moderate exercise programs, such as stretching bands for the upper body, and engaged in a 20-minute low-impact aerobic exercise daily, they had improved strength and felt better about themselves at the end of the six-week program.


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You don’t need to be alone in your pursuit of well-being. Our team is always available to help. If you'd like to schedule the next available evaluation to find out which options are likely best for you, just go HERE.


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