I’m Fit. So Why Do I Hurt?

I work with a variety of clients, from the first-time exerciser to lifelong fitness junkies. And while the newbies may take awhile to get used to the “good” pain the next day, the complaint I get most from the fitness lovers is “I’m fit, so why do I hurt so much?” 

If you have spent years loving to sweat, feel the burn, and push yourself, but are starting to exhibit new aches and pains, it can be frustrating! You have always taken care of your body, but it’s starting to fail you. What is going on? 

What Your Aches & Pains Are Telling You

Well, first of all – you aren’t twenty anymore, and you can’t expect your body to respond the same as it once did. But more than that, there are three big reasons your body hurts, despite being “fit”. 

1. Overuse. This is a BIG one! If you do too much of one thing, or have a repetitive movement pattern, your body will protest. Perhaps you go for long walks, run regularly, and use the cross-trainer at the gym. These all have similar movement patterns! Overuse can even come from a combination of work and fitness movements, like lifting boxes at work, then lifting at the gym. 

2. Imbalances. We all have imbalances in our strength and mobility, but some are more obvious (and problematic) than others. They can result from things like past surgeries, injuries, the way you sleep, or even how you sit in the car. When the imbalance is too great, it causes your body to overcompensate in other areas, and shows up as aches and pains. 

3. Form. Once you feel comfortable in your fitness routine, you can go along for years without much coaching or assessment. You can run for years and never feel any type of injury, then suddenly a nagging pain starts. Even as a trained fitness professional, I didn’t realize how poor my indoor cycling form was. Then I started Pilates, and became more aware of how my body moved – and realized poor form was why I had ongoing glute pain. 

Read: For Runners Past & Present: How to Avoid Running Injuries

Where to Go From Here

If your “fit” body is making you ask “why do I hurt?”, it is time to look at what you are doing in your regular fitness routine. Is there a good balance between cardio, strength training, mobility (such as Pilates), rest, and professional treatment like massage, chiropractor, physio? 

You might love that three day-a-week bootcamp class, but if your body is complaining it might be time to ask yourself if you’re moving well, with good form. Are you aware of your imbalances? I also love those sweaty, kick-butt HIIT workouts, but they aren’t needed every day. Even one or two classes a week will benefit you. Plus, once you are working with good form and body awareness, you can get more from less. 

Read: Adding Cross Training Improves Performance 

Pilates can help you become more aware of your body and how you move, while strengthening the small muscles and correcting imbalances in mobility and strength. If your body has been trying to tell you something, let’s talk about what is going on in your routine.To get your form back on track, Pilates or personal training might be the answer.