Exercising When It Hurts

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

ROCHESTER, Minn. — If your knees ache on your daily walk, should you forego daily exercise or keep it up? Sometimes, especially after an injury, pain is a signal to rest. But generally, resting too long can lead to deconditioning and more discomfort.

Regular exercise provides benefits, including helping to minimize pain. For example, strength training builds up muscles around your joints, providing structural support and protection. And exercise causes your body to release chemicals called endorphins, which block pain signals from reaching your brain. They also help relieve anxiety and depression — both of which can make pain worse.

The September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource offers these tips on when to keep exercising and when to stop:

Exercise, but proceed with caution if: —Your muscles are sore and aching. —Your doctor has given you the OK to exercise.

Stop exercising and see your doctor if: —You have swelling around a joint, especially if it's red and warm. —Your joint pain worsens with exercise. —You have a fever without a specific illness. —You have pain when you bear weight, especially pain that causes you to limp. —The joint feels unstable, or there's a block to joint motion, for example if your knee "locks." —Your pain worsens after exercise and doesn't improve over time.

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville — Erik Kaldor 904-953-2299

Mayo Clinic Scottsdale — Anne Tewksbury 480-301-4368

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

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