A frightening number of patients are told by health professionals that having to slow down is part of growing older and they are going to have to start putting up with aches and pains. Yet this needn’t be the case.

Of course we cannot stop the body from growing older and there will be changes that are part of the normal ageing process. Bones become less dense, muscle strength and flexibility is reduced and there will be evidence of joint ‘wear and tear’. A reduced metabolism may lead to weight gain which in turn exacerbates these problems.

The great news is that numerous pieces of research indicate that you can help yourself enormously by combating these changes with physical activity. Regular physical activity will help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce the loss of bone density, strengthen muscles and keep joints flexible. Exercise also means a healthy heart and good circulation with the added benefits of an enhanced mood and a good nights sleep.

As with most things, there may be glitches associated with increasing your physical activity – either problems getting started or obstacles to overcome along the way.

Physiotherapy can help. Physiotherapists can carry out a musculoskeletal assessment in order to offer you specific and expert advice on exercising and achieving good physical condition.

Pain and stiffness associated with common complaints like arthritis, neck and back pain can be treated in order to help you achieve your goals.