Aerobic exercise as a natural painkiller

It sounds weird -- exercise can be a relief from pain. With the phrase "no pain, no gain" fresh on the minds of many regular exercise participants, the thought of reducing pain through exercise sounds a bit odd. But, it's true!

Aerobic exercise (where the heart rate spikes for 20-30 minutes) is a great way to reduce all kinds of pain as well as condition your heart for dealing with the stresses of everyday living.

The good news is that there are so many types of aerobic exercise that getting some in every day is relatively easy for most of us. Walking, biking and bicycling are great ways to get that heart rate up and that oxygen intake increased. Another benefit is that regular aerobic exercise releases endorphins -- your body's natural painkillers. So, try and forget the ibuprofen and just get some regular exercise if at all possible -- and see how your body thanks you.