Common myths about pain and exercise

Many beliefs about pain keep people from moving. These short answers explain what the research actually shows.

• “I have a herniated disc, so that's why my back hurts”: Disc bulges and herniations are very common in people with no pain at all, and a scan finding alone rarely explains pain. Here is what that means for your back pain and for exercise.
• “I need an MRI to know what's wrong with my back”: When imaging helps with back pain, when it doesn't, and why most guidelines advise against routine scans.
• “I'm too old to start exercising”: What the research says about starting strength and exercise training later in life.
• “My knee hurts too much to exercise”: Why exercise is the first-line treatment for knee osteoarthritis and how to start when your knee hurts.
• “Rest is best for chronic pain”: Why staying active usually helps chronic pain more than rest, and how to move when you are sore.