Cold weather makes it easier to stay indoors and skip your daily exercises.  However, the pain you may be experiencing could be directly related to not getting enough exercise.  Did you know daily activity can improve your overall well being as well as your mood?

Here are a few ways in which exercise can help your body:

The Brain: Exercise in men and women can increase the level of endorphins and serotonin produced in the body.  Endorphins are important because they help fight pain.  Serotonin also helps to block your brain’s perception of pain because it increases the flexibility of blood vessels.  For women, exercising has the ability to stabilize the hormone estrogen within the body.

The Spine: If you’re experiencing minor back aches, exercising could ease the pain.  In order to help your spine’s flexibility, it is best to stretch.  Stimulating the soft tissue within the spine will increase mobility and flexibility.  In doing so, back pain sufferers may feel a sense of diminished pain over time.

The Heart: Exercising helps to make your heart stronger and lower high blood pressure.  When an exercise routine is established, the heart is able to pump more blood using less of an effort than that of someone who does not exercise.  If your blood pressure is under control, exercise can help to keep it stable as you age.

When you have pain and are beginning an exercising regime, it is important to know when enough is enough.  Soreness is very common after exercising; in fact, having soreness is your body’s way of saying that you’re using a muscle that has been dormant for some time.  However, having extreme pain is a big red stop sign when exercising.  You must gauge your body during exercise to determine when to push through the pain and when to stop.  If while you’re exercising you experience: light-headedness, chest pain, fatigue or shortness of breath, stop immediately and give your body a rest. It is always best to pace yourself to protect muscles and joints.

Another best practice for exercising is to have a partner.  If you use the buddy system every time you work out, you are more likely to be successful and consistent in your routine.  Before you begin, remember to consult your doctor to find out what kind of exercise is best for your condition and don’t let the reluctance to move keep you from being active!