You’ve probably heard it before: “No pain, no gain.”
But here’s the truth — that phrase has pushed more people into our clinic than it’s kept on the playing field.

If you’re an active adult in your 40s, 50s, 60s (or beyond), you already know the stakes are higher. You’ve worked hard to stay active — morning walks, pickleball, gym workouts, yoga — and the last thing you want is an injury that takes you out for weeks (or months).

So how do you know when a little discomfort is okay to push through… and when your body is waving a red flag saying, “Stop right now before this gets worse”?

The Good Kind of Discomfort

Let’s start with the kind of soreness that’s normal.
Ever done a new workout and felt that stiff, achy sensation in your muscles the next day? That’s likely Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) — your muscles adapting and growing stronger.

Here’s how you can tell it’s the “good kind” of pain:

• It shows up 12–24 hours after exercise, not during.
  
• It feels like dull, widespread muscle ache — not sharp, stabbing pain.
  
• It fades within a couple of days as you move and stretch.
  

That’s your body saying, “Nice job — I’m getting stronger.”

The Pain That Should Stop You in Your Tracks

Now, what about pain that starts during a workout — or pain that feels sharper, more focused, or gets worse with certain movements?

That’s your body saying, “Hey, something’s wrong here.”
Examples might include:

• Knee pain that feels like a jab every time you squat or go up stairs.
  
• Shoulder pain when lifting overhead or reaching behind you.
  
• Back pain that shoots, burns, or causes numbness.
  

If you’re feeling this, pushing through won’t make you “tough” — it’ll just make your next few weeks (or months) a lot harder.

Why Active Adults Ignore the Warning Signs

We get it — you don’t want to lose momentum. You’ve seen what happens when friends “take a break” and never quite get back to their routine.
But here’s the hard truth: ignoring pain isn’t protecting your progress. It’s putting it at risk.

So ask yourself: Is this pain helping me move better, or is it forcing me to change the way I move?
If it’s the latter, it’s time to pause.

Listen to Your Body — But Don’t Guess Alone

Pain is your body’s way of communicating. The problem? It doesn’t always speak clearly. What feels like “just a tweak” today could be a brewing injury that sidelines you for months.

That’s where our dedicated team of Greenville physical therapists comes in. With a trained eye, we can identify subtle movement issues, muscle imbalances, and early warning signs you might overlook. From back pain to knee or shoulder discomfort, our goal is to help you keep moving — safely and confidently.

The Real Goal: Staying Active After 40 (With Less Pain)

You don’t have to choose between activity and safety. You can have both — you just need to know when to push and when to pause.
With expert guidance, you can prevent minor aches from becoming major injuries, so you can keep doing the things you love — for decades to come.

If you’re feeling unsure about your pain, don’t play the guessing game. Our team specializes in movement solutions for pain relief and injury prevention for active individuals right here in Greenville, SC.

Let’s make sure today’s discomfort doesn’t turn into tomorrow’s
setback.