Impressive, right? But being a highly active senior does have drawbacks, such as persistent aches and pains, chronic injuries and repetitive strain.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s something that Casey Lee, a board-certified geriatric physical therapist at ATI Physical Therapy<\/a>, sees regularly through her work with active senior clients.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve\u202fbeen active and healthy all their lives, and they want to keep moving, exercising, playing, jumping, hiking, swimming, biking, pickleballing etc.\u2014until the\u202fday they\u202fdie,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom an aging physiology standpoint, this is usually\u202fa very good\u202fthing. But, as my clients get older, their\u202faches and pains get louder\u202fand more prevalent. A day without some kind of pain, ache, or stiffness is\u202frare.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee zeroes in on one particular issue. \u201cThe\u202fpain-inducing\u202fculprit with highly active\u202fadults is often repetitive stress without proper recovery,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Using the example of someone who plays pickleball religiously, Lee explains that they will only be working the muscles and running through the movement patterns needed for that particular sport.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a recipe for repetitive overuse injuries like chronic tendinopathies, joint degeneration, spinal\u202fpain and stiffness.\u201d<\/p>\n But Lee has two easy tips to help reduce aches and pains and stave off injury.<\/p>\n What to read next<\/p>\n 1. Diversify your movement<\/p>\n \u201cThe great news for this highly motivated and physically active group is that with a few activity modifications and a tailored exercise program, they\u202freally\u202fcan have more\u202fpain-free\u202fdays,\u201d says Lee.<\/p>\n She explains that while she can\u2019t promise total relief, she encourages her highly active clients to diversify their daily movements to support tissue resilience and adaptability. This looks like mixing up training rather than doing the same exercise all the time.<\/p>\n \u201cA healthy and comprehensive exercise program should always include cardiovascular conditioning, strength and balance training, and tissue restoration,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure what this looks like for you, she suggests speaking to a physical therapist (use the American Physical Therapy Association\u2019s ChoosePT website<\/a> to fine one near me). They are trained to identify any gaps in your training to ensure that you have a well-rounded program that leaves space for you to recover.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s\u202fa common misconception that you\u202fhave to\u202fwait for a problem to occur before you can see a professional,\u201d says Lee. \u201cThis is not true. Physical therapists play a role in\u202finjury prevention.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Prioritise sleep<\/p>\n As well as varying the types of movement, Lee stresses the importance of recovery with rest days and, in particular, getting enough good-quality sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cSleep plays a critical role in immune function, tissue healing, pain management, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, learning and memory,\u201d says Lee.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we are not sleeping, we are not healing.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we age, our sleep quality worsens, with\u202fover 20% of adults over 65 reporting trouble staying asleep.\u202fClinically, this presents as \u2018everything hurts and nothing helps\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink about sleep like a non-negotiable medical intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n Casey Lee, clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy<\/p>\n Lee says that sleep problems can be incredibly frustrating, but challenges those struggling with them to think about sleep differently.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to think about sleep like a non-negotiable medical intervention,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you had\u202fa medical condition that required\u202fyou to take a specific medication routinely\u202fto stay alive, you\u202fwould make\u202fabsolutely certain\u202fyou followed the\u202fprescription schedule without deviation. \u202fI want you to think about\u202fsleep\u202fjust like that.\u201d<\/p>\n She adds that good sleep hygiene is key. Try adding consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, and set yourself up with an evening wind-down routine. \u202f<\/p>\n If you struggle with pain that keeps you awake, a physical therapist can help you troubleshoot your sleep posture. More complex sleep issues will need the attention of a doctor or sleep specialist.<\/p>\n Social Links Navigation<\/p>\n <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy<\/p>\n Casey Lee has worked with aging adults as a geriatric physical therapist for almost 20 years. She has developed successful health and wellness programs for skilled nursing facilities, independent and assisted living communities, and PACE programs. <\/p>\n![\"woman's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SPZNY8rbsXaZuoDvrykhcd.jpg\")
Casey Lee<\/p>\n