The main difference is that one stops you from being able to effectively perform the task at hand, while the other is just an unpleasant feeling that can be overcome with mental toughness or compensatory strategies.
As a physical therapist, most people dont seek me out until they are injured. They can no longer accomplish the things they want to do in life and want to return to being productive or active. If only they would come see me before they were injured, or even hurt. We can prevent these injuries from happening. We have screening tools and know the likely culprits that result in injury.
The main thing that attracted me to CrossFit was the methodology that combines functional fitness with promoting lifelong health. Is health simply the absence of disease? Or is health the ability to carry out any task that life demands? I hope we know the right answer by now.
Injuries are the worst. They cost money and are mentally draining. We can manage or recover from very extreme injuries but I always ask how can we avoid them altogether.
People should see their dentist twice a year to check their teeth. They should also see their musculoskeletal specialist to ensure the rest of the body is not heading in a bad direction!
Back to my usual advice:
Drink plenty of water
Eat real food
Move your body as much as you can
Get a musculoskeletal screening from a trained professional at least once a year and discuss all your imbalances, aches and pains
Be merry :)
