By now everyone has heard the phrase, “No pain, no gain.” I’ve even said it, and while it isn’t
completely wrong we need to learn how to tell "good" pain from bad pain. There is a difference between being sore from a workout, in pain because you did something you shouldn’t have, and chronic pain that comes from weakness and immobility. Let me quickly point out on the front end that, yes, some soreness is part of the fitness process and is not a bad thing. I am not saying people shouldn’t push themselves, I want to let you know that being in pain isn’t normal and is fixable. You know that pain that is with when you wake up? The pain that you chalk up to “getting older” or “just part of it.” Well you may be surprised to find out that you don’t have to live with that. Long term, sustainable relief doesn’t come in the form of a pill with addicting and liver damaging side-effects, it comes from movement. WebMD published an article in which they stated that “people who exercise and stay flexible manage their pain much better than those who don’t.” When you’re in pain, the last thing you want to do is to get up and move around, but that’s exactly what you need. I recently began working with a client who is recovering from a knee surgery. At a checkup prior to coming back to training, the doctor told them that he “wasn’t pleased” with the strength in the recovering leg and encouraged them to get back in the gym and get stronger. Since coming back my client’s knee is feeling better and they are moving more smoothly and with less pain. They are able to squat without pain or instability. A recent study conducted by the medical journal Spine found that people who resumed or began an exercise program after treatment for chronic low back pain were less likely to have continued pain, get injured again, or miss time from work due to low back pain. Did you know that you can squat, deadlift, and bench press without pain? More importantly, did you know that you can pick up your kids, get out of bed, and clean the house without pain? Strengthening the muscles around the joints will help alleviate the pain and create better stability. Some people think that if they simply stretch more it will fix the issue. Dr. Kelly Starrett, best-selling author of “Becoming a Supple Leopard,” cautions against just stretching. “Stretching doesn’t work by itself. It doesn’t improve position, it doesn’t improve performance, it doesn’t eliminate pain, and it doesn’t prevent injury,” says Starrett. As Christians we have victory over pain. We can speak to it and it has to go. That being said, we cannot expect God to make up for our poor choices. We can't eat McDonald's and watch TV all day while expecting God to keep you healthy and fit. It's our responsibility to take charge of our bodies. Get moving, get stronger, and stand firm against pain.