10/26/2023
No Pain, No Gain?
The phrase, “NO PAIN, NO GAIN!” has become increasingly popular in today’s world, often associated with workouts, strength training and body building. The saying stems from the intense burn/fatigue felt while lifting heavy weights, or the delayed onset muscle soreness that can occur 1-2 days after an intense workout.
This “pain” is a common and safe experience among many athletes and “weekend warriors”. But is the “ NO PAIN, NO GAIN!” axiom one to follow when it comes to physiotherapy exercise prescription ?
It depends.
The answer is generally “no”.
When it comes to muscle and joint injuries, exercise-related pain is often a sign that the body is not tolerating the load it is being put under. Pushing through the pain can lead to new injuries or can aggravate your current injury, causing an increase in the inflammatory response and delaying your recovery time.
Typically, when you are performing rehab exercises, you should not feel any pain. However, in the case of chronic pain (pain that has lingered for longer than 3 months), and while rehabilitating following joint replacement surgery or while working on improving range of motion and function with osteoarthritis, it is often necessary to enter the “discomfort zone” in order to make gains in function.
It is always best to consult your physiotherapist regarding your particular situation and ensure you get clarification and guidance regarding which approach…No Pain or Pain for Gain….will best support your healing journey and help you achieve your goals.
