This kind of goes in line with discussions we frequently have about being fit and in shape. That's important but a component of that I don't see mentioned much at all is the fact that your body hurts.

A lot. Like a lot a lot. It's a normal part of just living life in general (even without a system that insists you destroy your health to enrich someone else) and it's something that can impact your quality of life quite a bit.

Pursuant to what we focus on here, aches and pains get in the way of training and training effectively. If your back hurts you're probably not going to want to go to the range as much or train in your armor.

Stretches and routine exercise help keep your body limber and can prevent some body pain but there's certain things that it's worth consulting a professional about.

Enter the physical therapist.

Right off the bat, I want to acknowledge that this may not be accessible to everyone for various reasons. Most insurance will cover physical therapy as will most state medical insurance plans though not to the degree you may need to address a particular problem fully. It's worth a conversation with your insurance provider or your doctor to check what may be covered and for how much.

Generally, insurance wants to see that you have some kind of ongoing, chronic pain problem in your body that isn't the result of another medical issue. Given the reticence of doctors to prescribe pain medication at this point, there's been more openness to the idea of physical therapy for body pain issues.

It's not cheap to do private pay but even a single session can give you information that will help keep a lot of pain at bay.

It's worth it even if you don't have any specific pain complaints to get feedback on proper exercise techniques, stretches you can do to target areas that you use frequently, and other advice that will help save you a lot of pain later on. I brought my armor in to a physical therapy appointment (after confirming with the therapist that this would be ok) and got a specific list of exercises I could do to make wearing my armor easier and less likely to cause long term joint problems. If you've ever been around a group of people who've spent a lot of time wearing body armor, you know how absolutely jacked your back and knees can get.

Think of it in a budgeting context like taking a training class - being able to manage pain better and maintain flexibility will pay off immensely because you'll be more able to fully participate in future endeavors instead of having to be the person always sitting things out because "my X hurts." Having been that guy, it's an incredibly frustrating experience.

It's also very worth it to inquire about massage therapy and to consider it. I'm not talking about the people who set up those weird chairs at the mall, I'm talking an actual licensed, trained massage therapist. They can't deal with the fallout of larger scale injuries but periodic massage and their advice on stretches can do a world of good. Massage therapy is also frequently covered under most insurance.

In my case, I've had back pain for decades. I did a lot of manual work when I was younger and didn't always lift with my legs. After a few visits with a massage therapist it turns out that my hip flexors were super tense which was pulling my upper body forward and that was being resisted by my back muscles which was causing constant, low grade back pain. I got some advice on hip flexor stretches and some other exercises from a physical therapist and my back is worlds better than its been in a long, long time and I would never have figured that out just doing basic stretches.

I realize we've been trained to think that this kind of thing is an indulgence, a luxury, but how you move your body dictates what you can do in the world. Do not let people gatekeep basic elements of healthcare behind some imaginary class wall.