Are you one of the many American adults who live with chronic pain and stiffness in their muscles and joints? There are many conditions that can cause chronic pain and stiffness, but oftentimes, this is nothing more than the result of lack of physical activity.

Lack of physical activity leads to your muscles becoming tighter and weaker. Not only does this cause pain and stiffness in the muscles themselves, but it also increases strain on your joints. This causes pain and stiffness to increase in the joints as well.

Adding more physical activity to your daily life is a great way to improve the condition of your muscles and joints. Not everyone has the time to exercise every day, but you should be able to find the time for these three simple activities. 

Three ways to add more exercises to your daily life

1. Take the long way — Whenever you go to the store, do you try to find the closest parking spot to the entryway? It’s time to stop doing that. Park farther from the entryway to add more walking to your trip. Plus, parking farther away saves you the stress of looking for the perfect spot and competing with other drivers over it.
2. Get away from the desk — Many people have jobs that require them to sit at a desk in front of a computer for hours. Prolonged periods of sitting like this are rough on your back and neck. Be sure to get up every hour at least once for 10 to 15 minutes to stretch and move around. It’s a good idea to set a reminder for this until you build it into a habit.
3. Take the stairs — A lot of people prefer to take the elevator or escalator to move from one story to another, but it’s time to start using the stairs. Taking the stairs adds quick exercise to your daily routine.

Of course, we understand that it’s not always a realistic option to take the stairs. For example, if you work 20 stories up in a building, you probably don’t want to use the stairs multiple times per day. However, you could take the elevator part of the way and use the stairs for the rest of the journey that you’re comfortable with.

Visit Continuum Wellness for help treating and preventing chronic pain

Simple exercises every day can go a long way in helping with chronic pain, but you may need more than this for treatment. At Continuum Wellness, our physical therapists can examine your condition and develop a personalized treatment routine to help you reach your recovery goals. Contact our team today for more information about chronic pain and stiffness or to schedule an initial appointment.