When pain goes from acute to chronic it is called chronification—or when inflammatory muscle pain transitions to chronic pain. Brazilian researchers focused on the role of exercise in that process. They found physical exercise can activate the anti-inflammatory
process that alleviates or even prevents temporary muscle pain, thus blocking it from becoming a chronic condition.
Laboratory animals exposed to simulated muscle injury, but exercised beforehand did not appear to develop chronic muscle pain. Avoiding chronic pain may reduce the use of opioids for pain relief and pave the way for alternatives that act along with physical exercise for a safer way to deal with muscle pain.