Regular exercise, including activities such as Pilates and tai chi, may help reduce pain across a wide range of conditions, with even relatively modest amounts of physical activity producing meaningful benefits, according to a new study from the University of Adelaide.
Researchers reviewed 157 systematic reviews covering 2,736 randomised controlled trials and more than 220,000 participants to examine how exercise affects acute and chronic pain.
The study found that exercise reduced pain by about 1.1 points on a scale from zero to 10. The researchers said this reduction was roughly 60% greater than the average relief reported for common pain medicines in separate trials involving chronic pain.
The analysis examined how different forms, intensities and durations of exercise affected pain outcomes. It found that lower-intensity exercise was associated with greater pain reductions than moderate or vigorous activity.
Shorter exercise programmes also produced stronger effects. Programmes lasting about 12 weeks were more effective than longer interventions, while routines involving less than 120 minutes of exercise per week were associated with greater pain relief than programmes requiring more weekly activity.
“More exercise wasn’t necessarily better,” said lead researcher Ben Singh. He said shorter and lower-intensity programmes could produce greater reductions in pain, suggesting that people with chronic pain may not need to exercise harder or for longer to experience useful benefits.
The researchers said exercise may affect pain through several biological and psychological mechanisms. Physical activity can stimulate the release of chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin, which may influence pain perception and tolerance. Exercise can also help regulate inflammation, affect how the brain processes pain and improve mood, Singh said.
Carol Maher, a senior researcher at the University of Adelaide, said the findings provide evidence for making exercise a more regular part of pain management at a time when healthcare providers are looking for approaches that can complement medication.
Despite the evidence, the researchers said exercise remains underused in pain treatment. Patients are often advised simply to stay active rather than being given a structured programme specifying the type of exercise, intensity and duration that may be appropriate for their condition.
Singh said healthcare providers need clearer guidance on which forms of exercise are most suitable for particular patients and how such programmes should be prescribed.
The researchers cautioned that exercise should not be viewed as a universal treatment or an expectation that pain will disappear. Its effects can vary depending on the underlying condition, an individual’s fitness level and how consistently they follow an exercise programme.
The findings suggest that carefully designed, manageable exercise routines could form a useful part of pain care, particularly for people who may find demanding physical activity difficult to maintain.
