John’s face is lit by the bright glow of the television screen. He is watching the FIFA World Cup and thinking about his time playing in his local Sunday league. Now in his 60s, John’s peak of physical activity is getting out of the house to buy groceries! But 30 years ago he was a prime example of a fit and healthy man. He would start the day with a run, go to the gym and then play football with his friends. It had been his routine. He had always been in top shape, until the tyrant of his life arrived: pain. Image John remembers the time he had just turned 30. Pride overwhelmed him as he had upped his game in the gym, lifting heavier weights for his typical workout. Most days he had been aware of pain starting to build in his lower back “The back pain always passes,” he reassured himself, “once I am on the pitch, it will be OK’. The pain never did leave. When John eventually went to his GP he was told that he very likely had osteoarthritis. He left holding a flyer with basic information about the condition and advice to keep exercising without putting too much strain on the joints. As no one had given him specific workouts, John kept doing his own thing, exercises he felt would keep him in good health. After a while, though, pain and the constant injuries made it unbearable. Over time, he started to avoid intense, fast-paced work-outs, then playing football and his daily runs. Finally, searing pain in his back and knees forced John to abandon the gym as well. John suspected he had overloaded his joints through poor exercise choices, choices he felt he was forced to make because his GP had not given him any advice about what type of exercise was helpful for his condition. Eventually his GP had referred him to physiotherapy and, after many months on a waiting list, he was advised to try water-based exercise. But in time, even swimming became too difficult because of the pain. Finally, an orthopaedic surgeon had told John he would need a knee replacement. John felt utterly deflated that his attempts at managing his condition, through his own exercise routine, had actually made his condition worse. “Goal!!!” The crowd roared from the television. John could no longer bear to watch the fit and energetic footballers who ran across the field. He switched off the television and saw the reflection of a frail and sick man. “Did I really do this to myself, could it have been different?” thought John, shaking his head with regret. This article was published on 2024-08-22
