Mobility plays a large part in our lives. Even though most of us spend our days seated, in a desk, we still need to move around in the world to some degree. If you’re limited in terms of mobility, your quality of life will diminish, no matter how you look at it.
I am a student of movement, so when I am in public spaces, I tend to watch the way people move. I watch posture and ambulation. I watch for limitations and weaknesses. I admire the fit people among us who move around effortlessly. I also feel the need to help those people I see wincing in pain, or those who are out of breath after a flight of stairs, but walking up to them with a business card seems a little forthcoming.
This fuels my obsession with movement.
I will never understand why someone simply accepts pain as a natural part of life. Like that nagging knee pain was just supposed to occur once you hit a certain age. I am really tired of hearing people use the age excuse:
“I’d like to see you try this when you’re 53.
I get it, and I openly acknowledge that things are WAY different now than they were in your 20’s. But that does not mean you need to accept pain as it is. Sure, you will have some aches and some joints won’t work as well as they used to, but this doesn’t mean that improvements can’t be made.
In most cases, pain can be greatly reduced (or eliminated altogether) through well-designed corrective exercise programming. However, not just any exercise program will do. In fact, some movements can do more damage than they help.
That is why you need a trustworthy coach. One that is well versed in exercise science and corrective exercise. Not just any Joe-Trainer at your local big box fitness franchise will do. In order to correct imbalances and eliminate pain-causing weaknesses, you’ll need to employ someone who is well-educated and knowledgeable. This is another topic, in itself, that we will save for another day.
The point is: you DO NOT have to go through life accepting pain. Pain is simply a warning sign from your body saying: “you better do something to fix this, or something real bad is about to happen.” A good coach will take this warning sign, assess the movement, and prescribe exercises that will correct the imbalance to eliminate the pain.
Before you go to the doctor for your next cortisol shot, start working with someone who specializes in rehabilitation or corrective exercise programs. It may take a little work, and you will probably have to break a sweat. However, starting a movement-based strength and conditioning program may be exactly what you need to avoid costly medical procedures and get back to living life with less pain.
