Pain is your friend.

I know, this sounds crazy, doesn't it? I certainly don't want to feel pain; who does?

But let's take a closer look at pain.

Pain is the body's way of requesting a change. It is a signal that something is wrong, often saying, “hey, stop that before I really stop you.” The body is brilliant; it compensates for muscles (and other structures) that are not functioning as they should. Eventually, however, it can no longer compensate. That's when the pain signal kicks in. The body is saying, “Hello! You’re overusing this muscle, it's not designed for that workload, I’m asking you to change.”

For example, a restriction in the lower back or hip could cause the shoulder or knee to absorb extra stress. Over time, this overloaded area becomes painful even though it isn’t the original source of injury. The body prioritizes movement over efficiency, which means it will compensate first and send pain signals later.

How to help? First, identify the driver of the pain. Determine the underlying cause, rather than focusing on the area where the pain is felt. The goal is to find the structure that isn’t doing its job, thus forcing other areas to compensate. Once the driver is treated, movement becomes more balanced, compensation eases, and strain on the body is reduced.

Pay attention to patterns. How and when does the pain appear? Are there certain movements that make you feel better? Worse? At what time of day? The answers to these questions can give valuable information as to what the root problem could be.

Notice whether the pain shifts or moves between different areas. If so, this often indicates a case of referred pain, in which the brain interprets pain signals as coming from an area other than the source of the problem

Seek assessment. If this is not your wheelhouse, reach out for help. You will move better, feel better, and get back to the activities you love.

If you repeatedly treat one area and the pain keeps returning, chances are you are addressing the symptoms rather than the cause.. Remember, as frustrating as pain is, it does not mean you are broken; it means your body is trying to protect you.