Ramping Up Workouts Prevents Age-Related Pain, Study Says Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search NEWS Fitness and Nutrition News To Avoid Age-Related Pain, Study Suggests Ramping Up Your Workouts By Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard is a freelance journalist specializing in health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition. Learn about our editorial process Published on February 24, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle. Learn about our editorial process Print Cavan Images / Getty Images Key Takeaways A new study suggests that only high levels of physical activity over age 50 are protective against musculoskeletal pain.Although all movement is beneficial, intensifying workouts as you age can provide more advantages like higher bone density and mobility.For those who do not have a workout routine, previous research indicates it is never too late to start. With aging comes a higher pain risk, especially chronic musculoskeletal pain that affects joints and muscles. One way to increase prevention efforts is by stepping up your level of exercise, according to a new study in the journal PLoS ONE. Here's what you need to know about increasing exercise intensity as you age. About the Study Researchers looked at more than 5,800 people over age 50 who were part of a large, long-term study on aging in England. Participants provided information on their physical activity levels, as well as whether they were bothered by any type of chronic pain over a 10-year period, with about half reporting this type of issue in that timeframe. The activity was classified into four categories. These categories included: Sedentary, or no activity Mild, such as housework Moderate, like walking, stretching, and gardening Vigorous, such as running, biking, swimming, and playing tennis Only the highest level of physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of musculoskeletal pain compared to a sedentary lifestyle, which brought the highest probability of chronic pain. Nils Niederstrasser, PhD With these results, we can see that preventing and alleviating pain might come from incorporating regular physical activity, and making sure at least some of it is vigorous. — Nils Niederstrasser, PhD "It's well known that pain tends to be more common as we age, but the solution has proved elusive," says lead author Nils Niederstrasser, PhD, senior lecturer in the department of psychology at the University of Portsmouth, U.K., where his research focuses on pain, injury, rehabilitation, and frailty. "With these results, we can see that preventing and alleviating pain might come from incorporating regular physical activity, and making sure at least some of it is vigorous." Focusing on Mind-Body Connection Could Help Back Pain Consistency Is Key Another important finding, Dr. Niederstrasser adds, is that doing vigorous activity sporadically was also not helpful for pain reduction. Those in the study who did this type of exercise at least once a week—and ideally a few times weekly—were the least likely to report musculoskeletal pain within the 10-year study time period. This was true even when factors like age, weight, and gender were considered. The strong connection between high physical activity and reduced pain incidence could be related to several variables, Dr. Niederstrasser says. For instance, high physical activity may improve health, impact weight gain, and lead to better muscle function. It also could lead to higher bone density and a lower risk of injuries, particularly falls. Even mood and stress levels can be impacted by higher physical activity. Although vigorous activity was the biggest driver for these benefits, he adds that even mild or moderate activity lowered pain risk, compared to being sedentary. Previous research also shows a strong connection between sedentary behavior and chronic pain for older adults, in a bidirectional relationship—having pain can lead to lower activity levels, which then worsens pain. For example, a study in the journal Pain found that people with musculoskeletal disorders such as knee osteoarthritis who tend to focus on their pain the most end up spending more time in sedentary behavior. This decision can lower their pain management, physical function, and overall health. The Link Between Grip Strength and Longer Life Never Too Late For those who have reached middle age or are older and have not developed a regular exercise routine, the good news is that it is not too late to reap the kind of benefits. For example, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that rates of muscle mass in older women were maintained with activity, even when participants only started exercising in middle age. Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira, MD, PhD Muscle mass plays a key role in aging, because if you're sedentary and losing that mass quickly, it sets you for all types of issues, including greater risk of falls, lower bone mineral density, injuries, and even increased early mortality risk. — Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira, MD, PhD "Muscle mass plays a key role in aging, because if you're sedentary and losing that mass quickly, it sets you for all types of issues, including greater risk of falls, lower bone mineral density, injuries, and even increased early mortality risk," according to Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira, MD, PhD, of the University of Sao Paulo’s Medical School in Brazil. Maintaining muscle mass also tends to require more work, Dr. Pereira says. Echoing this most recent study, a 2011 study highlighted how vigorous workouts are needed to reduce or alleviate musculoskeletal pain. For example, researchers found that people over age 60 often need to lift more weight than younger adults to maintain muscle size and mass. "Of course, it helps to build muscle mass when you're younger, so you can have that coming into older age," says Dr. Pereira. "But really, starting exercise at any age will give you benefits." What This Means For You A recent study found that regular vigorous exercise over age 50 will lower your age-related pain risk. But researchers also emphasized that any movement brings health advantages over being sedentary. If you suffer from age-related pain, you may want to ramp up your exercise regimen. Just be sure to talk to a healthcare provider first. They can help you determine what is right for you. Humans Evolved to Be Physically Active During Aging, Researchers Suggest 4 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Niederstrasser NG, Attridge N. Associations between pain and physical activity among older adults. Meyre D, ed. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(1):e0263356. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263356 Zhaoyang R, Martire LM, Darnall BD. Daily pain catastrophizing predicts less physical activity and more sedentary behavior in older adults with osteoarthritis. Pain. 2020;161(11):2603-2610. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001959 PMID:32569091 Juppi HK, Sipilä S, Cronin NJ, et al. Role of menopausal transition and physical activity in loss of lean and muscle mass: a follow-up study in middle-aged finnish women. JCM. 2020;9(5):1588. doi:10.3390/jcm9051588 Bickel CS, Cross JM, Bamman MM. Exercise dosing to retain resistance training adaptations in young and older adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2011;43(7):1177-1187. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e318207c15d By Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard is a freelance journalist specializing in health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles How to Lose Weight the Right Way in Your 50s and 60s 8 Tips for Running in Your 40s, 50s, and Beyond 5 Ways to Maintain Muscle Mass Midlife Exercise May Lower Chronic Disease Risk, Study Says How Do Your Nutritional Needs Change Over Time? 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