Managing daily activities
The longer we have pain, the harder it can be to keep active. Our activity levels often change based on our pain and this often leads to a change in how we approach day to day activities.
You may find that on your good days, when pain is not too bad, you overdo it. This can then make you sorer, meaning you then need to rest for either the rest of the day or for days later. This is known as “over and under activity cycling” or “boom/bust cycling”.
Over the long term this pattern may cause you to rest for longer periods, which then reduces your motivation to be active, and then avoidance of overall activity. Unfortunately, in most cases this will lead to reduced strength, stamina and flexibility of the tissues in your shoulder.
This can often lead to more pain from your tissues having to then work harder when trying to be active.
Successful management of activity
Remaining active with pain can be achieved by following some key themes from the example shown below of a patient with shoulder pain who wants to paint their garden fence.
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