The shock was sudden. He didn't know what worse…

The pain shooting through his body, striking him down as if hit by lightning... Or knowing the pain he was felt came from putting on his jeans.

Steve had turned forty-five two days ago, and the party was wild, his dance moves enthusiastic. But now, he was laying on his bedroom floor, struggling to move.

He couldn't help but remember what it was like being a kid. Back then injuries came from falling out of trees, coming off your bike, or twisting an ankle when playing sports... now they came from a sudden sneeze, putting on a pair of jeans or moving the dog bowl.

"I'm falling apart", he thought, though he didn't know what had changed to make him feel more vulnerable. He wasn't as active as some, but he still played golf and got his steps in.

It wasn’t until recent that he noticed he was starting to feel stiff more often. Sitting for too long in one position would lead to feeling uncomfortable in his neck and lower back... but these things he had expected to happen as he got older.

Steve's story is more common than you realise...

One of the most accepted beliefs people have is that as you age, things don't work as well as they used to. That your body becomes more sensitive, especially in your joints. People come to expect pain in their knees, backs and hips. To hear constant clicking, and feeling as though their joints have cement caught in them. And as this grows more uncomfortable, they often find themselves thinking they better "slow down". Even going as far as to give up doing the things they love. But, just because it's common to see people experience this, does not make it normal.

You don’t have to experience this slow decay.

It's true. Our bodies change as we age. What you did to get fit, healthy and strong in your twenties and thirties will not work in your forties and fifties. As your body changes, so must your approach. There are three main changes that happen which most people aren't prepared for:

1. After the age of thirty, unless you are strength training, you will lose up to 5lbs of muscle every ten years. Meaning, you have less muscle to protect your joints, and burn the extra calories you may be consuming

2. You have more wear and tear in and around your joints. You have lived a life of activity and movement. And like a door hinge that has been used 10,000 times, it's now a bit creaky and needs more attention and care

3. There's a good chance you picked up some bad movement habits. Ones that (if you're in pain already) inflame and wear away at your joints and muscles. This can also cause you to put unwanted stress through areas that are not designed to take it

Too often people carrying excess fat, or in pain already jump into exercise. Unaware of the considerations above. They end up putting themselves at risk, using bad technique to exercise. Often thinking "no pain, no gain" and that being breathless and sweating means it's a good workout. This could not be more wrong.

Yes, it may have worked with a younger, more forgiving body. One that has not yet collected decades worth of experience and use. But, now it will only lead you to frustration and injury.

You can live a pain free life and still enjoy doing the activities you love to do, if you follow these three steps:

First, improve the way you move. Discover how to move without causing discomfort or pain.

Then, re-build and re-strengthen your vital muscle in the places that need the most support. Learning greater muscle control using safe exercise.

Finally, get even stronger than you were before. Once you improve your foundations, then you can focus on becoming better. And even living a life that most only dream of.