Routine physical activity is important in the prevention and treatment of chronic pain. Understanding the potential mechanisms for how physical activity and exercise alleviate pain will help clinicians individually tailor exercise prescription leading to improved outcomes. Current evidence on the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain will be discussed. Specific recommendations will be reviewed regarding therapeutic exercise that include dosing, decreasing exercise barriers, and utilization of the biopsychosocial model of pain.

Objectives:
1.Recognize the importance of physical activity and exercise in the prevention and treatment of chronic pain.
2. Discuss potential mechanisms underlying the role of exercise as a pain management tool.
3. Identify strategies to address barriers to exercise and compliance.

Dr. Bement received her MPT degree from the University of Iowa in 1997. Prior to returning to the University of Iowa as a PhD candidate, Dr. Bement worked in an outpatient orthopedic clinic where she was a member of the chronic pain team and was trained as a Fibromyalgia Instructor through the Arthritis Foundation. In 2004, Dr. Bement finished her PhD on the mechanisms of chronic muscle pain and started working at Marquette University in the Department of Physical Therapy. Dr. Bement’s research focus is on nonpharmacological pain management of chronic pain with funding from the American Pain Society, Arthritis Foundation, and National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bement has published several research articles and book chapters pertaining to the role of exercise in the management of pain.