Is it possible to be fit and not in pain?

[morningstar]

I just got back from a week long hiking and camping trip. It wasn't an intense trip, hiking about 75 kilometres over some fairly easy terrain. I carried a 20-40lb pack (the weight got less as the week went on, as we consumed food, etc.). Before the trip, I had some minorish injuries from various workout activities in my hip, ankle and knee. I also had some standard DOMS. By the end of the trip, all of my pains from both injuries and DOMS had disappeared. So my question is, do we have to be in at least some amount of pain all the time to stay fit?

 

[pixiesis]

Having pain all of the time (I don't mean DOMS) is a sign of overtraining. Constant "minorish injuries" will add up to chronic injuries/pain, which to me, doesn't correspond to "being fit" at all because it eventually will inhibit your ability to exercise or even just be normal and mobile.

Your body seems to have responded well to the change you gave it. I'd take that as a sign that when you have injuries, you need to change things up until you feel better. It's not a good idea to "work through" the pain (again, don't mean DOMS here).

Amy

 

[Gayle]

In addition to what Amy mentioned, chronic injury can also be a sign of muscle imbalances that you may not be aware of.

I saw a chiro about 5 years ago for chronic back pain, and he and his PT zeroed in on several imbalances/weaknesses (areas of the core, hamstring, inner thigh) that affected my back, as well as my hips and knees. Addressing these made a huge improvement.