Sustainability

Striving for perfection can hinder progress when something is already good enough. Frequently, when we are in pain, it’s normal to feel like there must be something more we should be doing, something better.

This is the time of year for New Year’s resolutions. People start new routines and change. It may be tempting to think that you need to add something to your rehab plan. “Which exercise will fix my pain?” But dealing with pain is not Black and White.

Maybe you think you need new workouts with more exercises. Or perhaps you want to overhaul your sleep schedule and diet. It’s natural to think something new might fix things. Pause and ask yourself two things.

First, are these changes likely beneficial?
Second, are they sustainable?

In 2025 Strength in Motion, is focused on creating and maintaining Sustainability. This applies to the business, our clients and ourselves. In conversations we’ve had over the the past year, we continue to ask: How can we balance work, rehab/training, and life while still having a clear understanding of goal and priorities?

With that focus on sustainability, and whether to change up your routine, here a few things to keep in mind:

Pain is Not Good or Bad

Pain, in its essence, is a signal. It is neither inherently good nor bad. It’s a neutral messenger serving a purpose, often drawing attention to something that needs care, healing, or change. It’s not a punishment!

How can pain serve us? It can be:

1. 1. A Natural Response – Pain is the body’s way of protecting itself, alerting us to potential harm or injury. It’s a survival mechanism designed to keep us safe and encourage healing.
   2. A Signal for Change – Pain often indicates that something in our body, relationships, or mindset needs attention or adjustment. It’s a prompt to pause, reflect, and adapt.
   3. A Catalyst for Growth – Many people find pain, while difficult, can lead to transformative experiences. Physical and emotional pain can push us to develop strength, compassion, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

There Are No Perfect Exercises to “Fix” Pain

We’ll dig deeper into this topic throughout the year, but exercise and movement can be just one aspect of managing pain. While strength and mobility exercises are considered an important part of rehab, it’s important to remember that pain is multi-faceted and complex. We often need to take a broader approach to deal with it.

Counting on exercise alone, can lead to disappointment and frustration, when it doesn’t completely fix your problems. Areas we may want to explore in tandem with exercise, and will talk about further in future newsletters, include things like: stress management, breathing and meditation, and sleep hygiene.

But with respect to exercise, here are are some important things to keep in mind:

1. 1. Exercise and Movement Are Not One-Size-Fits All – This is probably why that YouTube video or exercise protocol didn’t fix your pain! What works for one person may not work for another. You are unique! Your “best” exercises align with your goals, symptoms, and lifestyle. The good news? There’s no secret exercise to eliminate pain-you have many options!
   2. Consistency Beats Perfection – The most effective exercise is the one you’ll don consistently. If you enjoy it and it fits into your routine, it’s better than chasing the “perfect” exercise. What matters more is regularly showing up for your workouts, which leads to sustainable long-term results.
   3. Progress Over the Long Term – Striving for immediate results can lead to becoming discouraged due to unrealistic expectations. Sometimes painful conditions require more time than we would like. Rather than just focusing just on getting rid of pain, we can instead strive for gradual improvements in our capabilities like building strength or increasing endurance.