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The first Webcast addresses the benefits of exercise for individuals withchronic pain and provides practical tips by leading chronic pain expert, Dr.Warren A. Katz, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University ofPennsylvania School of Medicine and Associate of the Rothman Institute. Theimportance of exercise for people with persistent chronic pain was underscoredin the recent PRICARA(R) Chronic Pain Barometer online survey of 500 Americanchronic pain sufferers 18 years or older, which evaluated the impact ofchronic pain on exercise, diet, relationships and intimacy. In addition, lackof exercise was identified as one of the top three problems affecting thelives of people with chronic pain, while over 40 percent reported thatexercise helped manage their pain, in addition to other tools.
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During the Webcast, participants receive tips on how to incorporatephysical activity into a pain management program, such as:
-- Incorporating exercises such as stretching into your routine may helppromote flexibility, which allows joints to move through their full range ofmotion, potentially making them less likely to ache
-- Low-impact exercises may also be appropriate because participants getthe benefits of the aerobic activity with less stress on their joints.Low-impact exercises may include yoga, Pilates, biking, walking and swimming
-- A good goal to reach for is 30 minutes of aerobic activity four to fivetimes per week
As always, patients should first speak with their healthcare professionalbefore starting any type of exercise program.
"Chronic pain is a daily struggle for more than 50 million Americans. Itcan affect their relationships, daily activities and may limit their abilityto enjoy life to the fullest," said B. Eliot Cole, MD, MPA, ExecutiveDirector, American Society of Pain Educators. "Through this educationalWebcast series, we, along with PRICARA(R), aim to provide individuals livingwith chronic pain valuable information about coping with pain and points toconsider when discussing their pain management plan with their doctor."
Throughout the Webcast series, which is co-sponsored and co-developed byPRICARA(R), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., themarketer of ULTRAM(R) ER (tramadol HCl) extended release tablets, OlympicGames gold medalist Nikki Stone shares her personal story with persistentchronic pain as it relates to each topic and encourages other chronic painsufferers to not give up hope. In the first Webcast, Nikki reflects on thetime when exercise was the last thing on her mind. At that point, she did notwant to get out of bed, let alone exercise. But she knew she had to startsomewhere, which included speaking with her doctor and starting an exerciseroutine slowly: light stretching one day, a walk the next.
The second and third Webcasts focus on the benefits of weight control inchronic pain management and the psychological effects of this condition. TheseWebcasts, "Is Your Persistent Chronic Pain Weighing You Down?" and "MakingSure Your Relationships Aren't Pained When You're in Chronic Pain" will beonline for viewing in 2008 following the launch of the first Webcast. ThePRICARA(R) Chronic Pain Barometer survey also showed that:
-- Nearly half of chronic pain sufferers (approximately 46 percent) agreedcontrolling their weight helped them to manage their chronic pain, and 86percent of respondents stated that healthy changes to their diet helped tomanage their chronic pain
