Prescription drugs and medical procedures are two ways to control pain. Both are expensive, and one hurts. In this piece in the New York Times, Dr. Vijay Vad, a sports medicine specialist at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery and author of Stop Pain: Inflammation Relief for
an Active Life, talks about the pain killing power of exercise, particularly yoga. Here, for example, is Vad on exercise and arthritis: "A gradual increase in load on an arthritic knee joint not only reduces
pain, but there are data to show proper exercise therapy can slow down
the loss of cartilage. Muscles are the shock absorbers, but they’re shut
down by arthritic pain. You can reactivate those muscles gradually with
proper exercise therapy."
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
I would tell the good doctor that learning to move through and live thorugh the pain is very different from reducing the pain and, after years of having done such, continuing to stress an already compromised joint (or joints) lead to disabling condition of constant, chronic pain.
Been there, done that, am there now with the surgical scars to tell the story.
I agree with the doctor. I started a workout routine with a personal trainer in 2008 and I am virtually pain free in my right knee, which is arthritic and has screws. I am struggling with range of motion but am convinced that will never return to the likes of my other leg. stretching (yogo) helps 100%. I take supplements a long with motrin as needed. Ice my knee often.