As a personal trainer, I meet a lot of people who experience pain.

Sometimes it’s due to an injury or surgery.

Sometimes it’s simply from lack of use.

With today’s modern conveniences, physical activity is minimally required for many of us.

At some point, folks who live a sedentary lifestyle start to feel aches and pains they didn’t used to.

Not surprisingly, if you don’t exercise, use those muscles and move your joints through a decent range of motion on a regular basis, things will start to get weak, tight and stiff.

This isn’t a medical condition. It’s from lack of use.

The best thing to do is to start moving.

Developing strong muscles and joints that move well after years of being sedentary is a process — it takes time.

Many people start a new exercise program for a short period with unrealistic expectations.

They give up in short order.

Others start with an overambitious plan doing an activity or exercise program that they did decades earlier. They are either injured or completely discouraged before the program has time to make a difference.

Working with a good trainer or a physical therapist can help you get back into physical activity safely.

Lexington County has excellent providers who can help get you moving again.

It will not only help you achieve better health but live life more fully with sensible, safe exercise.

If you’re not physically active, don’t wait for your body to start falling apart.

Take control of your health and sense of well-being.

Start moving.