Monthly fitness tip:Why do our bodies hurt so much?

Courtesy City of Milton

By Kolleen Riddick

This is an important question. Many of us have chronic pain in our hips, lower backs and knees and have no idea why. Is it attributed to old age, stress, or abusing our bodies at a young age?

The answer to that question may be simple. There are typically six common factors that cause chronic daily pain:

1. Elevated stress levels

2. Too much sitting in a slouched posture

3. Poorly designed exercise programs that do not address the body as whole

4. Lack of flexibility (tight legs tend to pull on the lower back)

5. Bad eating habits

6. Poor sleeping habits

Think of your body as spokes on a wheel. If any spoke is weaker than the other, the wheel will not roll smoothly. Our body is only as strong as its weakest link.

So how do we alleviate these aches and pains?

1. First, meet with your physician and make sure that there are not any medical issues causing you to have these aches.

2. Step two, start an exercise program that addresses body as a whole.

Look for a program that assesses your posture and the biomechanics of your body. A good trainer should always start with a physical assessment to see how your body moves and where there may be some compensation

Riddick, a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, is founder of Milton-based CorePhysique and instructs Milton's fitness camps through a partnership with the City of Milton.