Pain with Movement

Exploring Causes, Associated Injuries, and Effective Treatment Solutions

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Pain can make everyday tasks feel challenging. Whether you’re managing chronic pain or recovering from an injury, moving as you once did may seem difficult. However, you’re not alone—roughly 24.3% of U.S. adults experience chronic pain^[1], and 8.5% have high-impact chronic pain that frequently limits daily life or work activities. Effective pain management goes beyond relief—it restores movement, improves function, and keeps you active.

What Is Pain-Related Movement?

Pain with movement is a common symptom that affects how you walk, bend, lift, or perform daily activities. It can feel like stiffness, sharp discomfort, or a deep ache that worsens with motion.

When pain keeps you from moving, it can lead to muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and even more difficulty staying active. Research shows that nearly 50% of people with chronic pain reduce their physical activity^[2], which can make movement even harder over time.

Pain with movement often affects areas that bear weight or handle repetitive motion, like your knees, back, shoulders, or hips. When discomfort limits your ability to stay active, it can lead to stiffness and further loss of function. Understanding why pain happens with movement is the first step toward managing it and restoring mobility.

Possible Causes Of Pain During Physical Activities

Pain with movement can stem from a combination of lifestyle, environmental, and physical factors. Certain habits, surroundings, and medical conditions may increase strain on your body, making everyday activities more difficult.

Lifestyle Factors Contributing To Pain During Movement

Your daily habits and environment play a crucial role in how your body feels during movement. Certain lifestyle factors can strain your muscles and joints, making pain more likely.

Sedentary lifestyle: Sitting for long periods weakens muscles, reduces flexibility, and increases stiffness, making movement more difficult and leading to pain in the back, hips, and knees.
Poor posture: Slouching or hunching places excess strain on your spine and muscles, causing discomfort in your neck, shoulders, and lower back over time.
Improper lifting or overuse: Lifting heavy objects incorrectly or performing repetitive motions can cause muscle fatigue, inflammation, and joint pain, especially in the back and shoulders.
Prolonged strain: Staying in one position too long reduces circulation and increases pressure on joints, leading to stiffness and discomfort in the legs, back, and feet.
Unsupportive footwear/mattress: Poorly cushioned shoes or an unsupportive mattress can misalign your spine and joints, contributing to chronic pain in your back, hips, and knees.
Lack of warm-up or stretching: Skipping warm-ups before physical activity increases the risk of muscle tightness, stiffness, and injury, making movement more painful.
Stress-related tension: Chronic stress can cause muscle tightness, especially in the lower back, shoulders, and neck, making movement uncomfortable and restricting flexibility.
Cold or damp exposure: Low temperatures and humidity can stiffen muscles and joints, leading to increased pain and reduced mobility, particularly in individuals with arthritis.

Underlying Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions can contribute to pain during movement by affecting your muscles, joints, or bones. These conditions may lead to stiffness, inflammation, or increased sensitivity to pain.

Fibromyalgia: A chronic condition that leads to widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and tenderness, making movement uncomfortable and often leading to stiffness and reduced mobility.
Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons, typically from overuse or strain, causing pain and swelling in affected areas, especially during repetitive movements.
Osteoporosis: A condition that weakens bones, thereby making them more prone to fractures. Weakened bones can cause back pain and height loss over time.
Plantar fasciitis: Inflammation of the tissue at the bottom of the foot, leading to sharp heel pain, especially when standing for long periods or walking.

Conditions That Could Be Causing Pain With Movement

If pain makes movement difficult, Compass Pain and Wellness provides expert care to help you regain mobility and improve function. Our team offers personalized treatments for conditions that cause pain with movement, helping you stay active and engaged in daily life. The following are the movement-related issues that we treat:

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is disc wear over time, causing back pain, stiffness, and possible nerve compression symptoms.

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy is nerve compression in the neck causing pain, tingling, or weakness in shoulders, arms, or hands.

Failed Back Surgical Syndrome

Failed Back Surgical Syndrome is ongoing or worsening pain after spine surgery, often due to nerve issues or scar tissue.

Lumbar Herniated Disc

A lumbar herniated disc happens when disc material presses a nerve, causing back pain, leg pain, or numbness.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction causes lower back, buttock, or leg pain due to joint inflammation or misalignment.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is spinal canal narrowing that compresses nerves, causing pain, numbness, weakness, or walking issues.

Joint Arthritis

Joint arthritis causes cartilage wear, leading to joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited movement.

Cervical Herniated Disc

A cervical herniated disc compresses neck nerves, causing pain, arm tingling, numbness, or weakness.

Disc Herniation

Disc herniation is when disc gel pushes out, irritating nerves and causing pain, nerve compression, or radiating discomfort.

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is spinal nerve compression causing pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs.

Sciatica

Sciatica is sciatic nerve irritation causing sharp pain from the lower back down through the buttock and leg.

Idiopathic Neuropathy

Idiopathic neuropathy is nerve damage without a known cause, causing numbness, tingling, pain, or muscle weakness.

Injuries That May Be Behind Your Movement Pain

Injuries can have a lasting effect on your ability to move comfortably. Whether from a sudden accident or repetitive strain, damage to the spine, joints, or muscles can lead to ongoing pain that interferes with daily activities. If you’ve been in a car accident, you may experience lingering discomfort that affects your neck, back, or overall mobility.

Spinal cord injury from a car accident: Spinal cord damage can lead to chronic pain, weakness, or even mobility loss, depending on the severity of the injury.
Back injury from a car accident: Sudden impact can strain muscles, ligaments, or discs, leading to persistent back pain that worsens with movement.
Neck injury after a car accident: Rapid force to the neck can cause pain, stiffness, or nerve irritation, making it difficult to turn your head or move comfortably.
Whiplash after a car accident: A forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck can lead to headaches, pain, and limited range of motion.
Neck sprain from a car accident: Overstretched or torn neck ligaments can cause inflammation and discomfort, making everyday movements like looking up or down painful.

Diagnosing The Cause Of Discomfort

Understanding the source of movement-related pain is key to developing an effective treatment plan. At Compass Pain and Wellness, we take a comprehensive approach to diagnosis, using advanced methods to pinpoint the cause of your discomfort and create a treatment plan that meets your needs.

Medical history: Discussing your symptoms, past injuries, and lifestyle helps identify potential causes of pain and guides further testing.
Physical examination: Assessing strength, flexibility, and movement limitations helps determine which areas are affected and how pain impacts your mobility.
Imaging tests: X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans provide detailed views of bones, joints, and soft tissues to detect injuries, degeneration, or structural issues.
Nerve conduction studies: These tests measure nerve function to identify damage or irritation that may be causing pain, numbness, or weakness.
Laboratory tests: Bloodwork helps rule out conditions like inflammation, autoimmune disorders, or infections that may contribute to pain.
Diagnostic injections: Targeted injections help confirm the source of pain by temporarily relieving discomfort in specific joints, muscles, or nerves.

Simple Ways To Ease Pain At Home

Certain evidence-based, non-invasive strategies can help reduce movement pain and support recovery. These methods complement professional treatments, offering relief between appointments and improving mobility.

Heat Or Cold Therapy

Applying heat relaxes muscles, improves circulation, and relieves stiffness, while cold therapy can reduce inflammation and numb sharp pain. Alternating between the two can help manage movement-related discomfort effectively.

Stretching, Yoga, Or Low-Impact Exercise

Gentle movement helps maintain flexibility, strengthen muscles, and reduce stiffness. Activities like yoga, stretching, or swimming can improve mobility and ease movement-related pain over time.

Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers

Non-prescription medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs can help reduce pain and inflammation. They can provide temporary relief during daily activities when used as directed.

Ergonomic Supports

Using supportive chairs, cushions, or braces can reduce strain on joints and muscles. Proper ergonomics improve posture, enhance comfort, and help prevent pain during daily activities.

Relaxation Techniques

Deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation can ease tension, reduce stress-related pain, and promote overall comfort during movement.

Proper Hydration And Sleep Environment

Staying hydrated supports joint lubrication and muscle function, while a supportive sleep setup—like a firm mattress and proper pillow—helps reduce stiffness and pain overnight.

We Provide Evidence-Based Treatments for Managing Pain with Movement

Treatment for pain caused by movement begins with a medical doctor appointment and may include physical therapy, massage, chiropractic care, and interventional pain procedures.

Movement-related pain shouldn’t keep you from living life fully. With the right approach, mobility can improve, and discomfort can be reduced. At Compass Pain and Wellness, we provide expert, evidence-based care to address the root cause of pain and develop a personalized treatment plan.

If pain interferes with movement, don’t wait to seek help. Contact Compass Pain and Wellness today to explore treatment options and take the first step toward lasting relief.

Treatments for Pain With Movement at Compass Pain and Wellness may include the following:

For a full list of all treatments we provide, click here.

Medication Therapy

Medication therapy uses tailored prescriptions to reduce chronic pain and improve daily function and comfort.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture stimulates targeted points on the body to reduce pain, support healing, and restore energy balance.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care improves spinal alignment and joint function to reduce pain and enhance physical mobility.

Epidural Steroid Injection

Epidural steroid injections reduce spinal inflammation to ease pain radiating from nerve compression or irritation.

Intracept

Intracept targets nerves inside the vertebrae to relieve chronic low back pain linked to vertebral endplate changes.

Joint Injections

Joint injections deliver medication into affected joints to relieve inflammation and improve range of motion.

Massage

Massage therapy eases muscle tension and improves circulation to support pain relief and overall well-being.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation help manage chronic pain by reducing stress and promoting emotional resilience.

Nerve Block

Nerve blocks interrupt pain signals from specific nerves to reduce chronic or procedure-related discomfort.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Peripheral nerve stimulation sends mild electrical signals to disrupt chronic pain from damaged peripheral nerves.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy improves strength, flexibility, and mobility while addressing pain from injury or chronic conditions.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation targets specific nerves to interrupt pain signals and provide lasting pain relief.

Sacroiliac Joint Fusion

SI joint fusion stabilizes the pelvis to relieve lower back or hip pain caused by joint dysfunction or instability.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation delivers electrical pulses to block nerve pain and reduce discomfort in the back or limbs.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections treat muscle knots by relaxing tense tissue and relieving localized pain or stiffness.

Our Providers

Meet our experienced and compassionate team of doctors who specialize in helping you manage your condition. With a patient-centered approach, our doctors work to understand your unique needs and provide compassionate, personalized care. Trust our providers to guide you on your journey to better health and improved well-being.

Dr. Kristi Reed, MD

Dr. Randolph Cribbs, MD

Dr. Carl Balog, MD

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