1. What conditions benefit most from exercise or physical activity?
Most chronic pain conditions improve to a certain extent with exercise. In fact the primary goal of the management of chronic pain is to enable patients to resume (to whatever extent possible) exercise and normal activities. Without exercise and cardiovascular activity being maintained, the chronic pain is worsened because of adding muscular stiffness and discomfort on top of the underlying condition.

2. I have back pain and my doctor insists I should be more active, but I am worried it will make my pain worse. What should I do?
Prolonged inactivity can actually lead to additional pain because the back becomes stiff, week and de-conditioned. However, if you have a chronic pain condition, by all means clear any exercise program with your treating physicians to make sure that by increasing activity you are not going to do any damage or worsen any underlying condition.

3. What is the most common form of pain?
Low back pain makes up the vast majority of all chronic pain complaints, and greater than 2/3 of all low back pain is muscular in origin. 8 out of 10 people will experience back pain at some point in their lives and that number is expected to rise as the population ages and the rate of obesity continues to climb.¹

http://www.painfoundation.org/learn/pain-conditions/back-pain/

4. I haven't been active due to my pain, but I would like to become more active. How should I get started?
The first step is to ask your physician if increasing activity and formal exercise programs are an option for the particular pain condition in question. Thereafter, a few sessions with a physical therapist or a certified physical trainer are a good place to start. They can usually help with stretching tight muscles that develop from disuse, in addition to making recommendations for a formal stretching and exercise program that will help with your particular condition.

5. What are some tips to avoid back pain?
Unfortunately, to a certain extent low back pain is a part of most of our lives at one time or another. The good news is that most low back pain improves with a little rest, or the use of simple treatment measures a t home, like the application of ice or heat, and taking over the counter NSAIDS or Tylenol. Exercising 30-45 minutes per day 3-5 days per week has been shown to not only help prevent cardiovascular disease, but to also help prevent spinal and musculoskeletal pain.

6. I can't afford a gym membership, so what exercises can I do on my own?
Simple fast-paced walking several miles per day is essentially cost-free, and can make a huge difference in maintaining cardio-vascular and musculo-skeletal health.

7. What are the benefits of physical activity?
The benefits of physical activity include weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, reduced cholesterol levels, and improvement in general sense of well-being.

8. Is there anything I can do to make the exercise less painful at first?
The first few times anyone begins an exercise program there is a certain amount of discomfort that is expected, especially for the first 2- 3 days after starting. Gradual increase in exercise tolerance and reduced discomfort is something that comes over time. Consulting a physical therapist or a professional certified trainer from the outset is the best way to make sure that injuries are prevented from the outset.

9. Because of my pain I struggle with depression, will exercise help me in this area?
Physical activity will definitely help with depression. Depression is one of the most common psychological issues affecting those who suffer from chronic pain. Many people who experience chronic pain avoid physical activity, but if you stop exercising you get out of shape and have increased risk of injury and worsened pain.

10. Are there any conditions you treat that would not benefit from exercise?
There are many conditions that we treat that are just so chronically painful that exercise is not a realistic expectation without advanced adjuvant treatment. These patients will often require assistance with pain medications and some nerve blocks or other injections to assist in increasing mobility and reducing discomfort.