Nothing gave you that feeling of confidence and euphoria like an intense workout. But now, even the thought of exercise makes your body ache.

A sharp stab of pain greets you each morning as you climb out of bed and cautiously test your joints. You keep hoping time will heal these aches and pains, but it never does. You’re not alone. Studies have shown that approximately 47% of adults suffer from chronic joint pain. That’s nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide.

Minor injuries that we sustained in our youth often resurface in our late 30s and 40s, growing more painful over time. Left untreated, these persistent joint aches can trap us in a cycle of inactivity.

It begins with the degradation of cartilage, the result of old injuries and normal wear and tear. The loss of this protective cushion in your joints creates bone-on-bone friction, causing sharp bouts of pain when you exercise. Your immune system attempts to repair the damaged tissue by inflaming your joints.

Each time you experience this irritation, your mind increasingly associates exercise with pain. You begin to work out less frequently to prevent further injury. But this lack of physical activity only results in increased stiffness and discomfort when you attempt to return to your workouts.

Over time, this pattern of pain avoidance causes you to completely abandon the activities you once loved, denying your body