Stop Ignoring Your Pain: Why NOW Is the Best Time to See a Physiotherapist (Over 50s Must Watch!)
If you’re over 50 and hoping your back, knee, shoulder, or neck pain will magically disappear just because it’s Christmas… I hate to break it to you — but it won’t.
And I get it.
This time of year, you’re busy thinking about everyone else.
Presents, dinners, grandchildren bouncing off the walls, long car journeys, endless sitting, endless lifting… and somewhere on that list — right at the bottom — sits you.
But here’s the truth that most people over 50 don’t realise:
December is actually the BEST time of year to sort your aches and pains.
Not January.
Not “after the holidays”.
Not “when things calm down”.
Now.
And in this blog, I’m going to show you why your pain feels worse at this time of year, why waiting makes recovery harder, and why seeing a physiotherapist now can help you walk into January feeling looser, stronger, and miles better.
Why Pain Gets Worse Over 50 at Christmas
Every December, people tell me the same thing:
“Gav, I’ll sort my pain in January.”
But here’s what really happens…
January arrives, your pain hasn’t gone anywhere, and now everything feels tighter, stiffer, and harder to settle.
Here’s why pain increases over Christmas — especially for active adults over 50:
1️⃣ More sitting
Long dinners. Long drives. Long TV nights.
Your joints simply don’t like it.
2️⃣ Less movement
Cold weather + busy schedule = stiff backs, tight hips, cranky knees.
3️⃣ More lifting
Shopping bags, decorations, grandchildren, boxes from the roof space…
4️⃣ More stress
Stress increases muscle tension and can amplify pain signals.
5️⃣ The “I’ll deal with it later” mindset
And that is the real problem.
When you don’t change anything… nothing changes.
What Happens When You Ignore Pain (Especially Over 50)
Pain is not the enemy — it’s information.
It’s your body flashing a dashboard warning light.
Here’s what happens when you try to “push through”:
Muscles tighten up
Joints stiffen
Nerves become more sensitive
Movement habits get worse
Recovery takes longer
You lose confidence with movement
If this was your car, you wouldn’t ignore the warning light…
So why ignore the warning signs in your body?
Why You Should See a Physiotherapist Before January
Most people think January is the time to start fresh.
But actually… December is the best time to get ahead of your pain.
Here’s why:
✔ Faster appointments
Clinics often have more availability before the January rush.
✔ Pain becomes harder to calm the longer you leave it
A stiff joint in December becomes a VERY stiff joint by January.
✔ Your body responds better when stress levels drop
Christmas might be busy — but your nervous system often relaxes once you take action.
✔ Small improvements now = big results next month
A little momentum now can completely change how your new year feels.
Simple At-Home Tips to Ease Pain Today
Here are easy, physiotherapist-approved tips you can start right now:
1. Move every 20 minutes
Set a timer — stand, stretch, walk.
2. Gentle spinal rotations
Fantastic for lower-back stiffness.
3. Use a heat pack
Especially helpful for tight shoulders and backs.
4. Share the lifting load
Don’t try to carry everything in one hand.
5. Diaphragmatic breathing
Reduces tension, calms the nervous system, and lowers pain sensitivity.
(Explained in my Back Pain Guide: 10 Quick & Easy Ways to Ease Back Pain & Stiffness )
Even doing just ONE of these today will help you feel better by tonight.
What Actually Happens When You Come to Gav Noble Physiotherapy
When you book in with us here in Lisburn, here’s what we do:
Reduce muscle tightness
Restore joint movement
Calm nerve irritation
Improve strength
Give you a personalised plan to keep pain away
Most people walk out feeling:
✨ lighter
✨ looser
✨ more confident
✨ and finally in control again
Often within the very first session.
Don’t Wait Until January — Feel Better NOW
If you’re over 50 and feeling stiff, sore, or limited…
Please don’t wait.
Pain doesn’t take Christmas off — and neither should your health.
Start now.
Take control.
Enjoy the holidays without pain stealing the fun.
👉 Click here to book your physiotherapy appointment at Gav Noble Physiotherapy in Lisburn.
Let’s get you moving freely again.