A “bad back” or “my body is broken”? Why language matters in movement and pain.

Many people arrive in clinic already convinced something in their body is bad, broken, or failing. “I’ve got a bad back.” “My shoulder is useless.” “My knees are shot.”

These labels don’t develop overnight. They’re shaped by pain, scans, past advice, and frustration, to name a few. But the words we use matter more than we realise — not because of positive thinking, but because language directly influences how our nervous system interprets threat, safety, movement and pain.

This matters for pain. And it matters for recovery. After all, as the famous quote, “what we think, we become” has merit – let’s think well of our bodies and allow them flourish rather than to live in pain or limitation.

The science (simply explained)

Pain is not just a tissue issue. It’s a protective output of the nervous system.

When your brain perceives threat — whether from injury, overload, stress, fear, or previous experiences — it responds by increasing protection. This protection can look like:

• Muscle tension and guarding

• Reduced movement options

• Stiffness

• Heightened pain sensitivity

• Fear of movement

Language feeds into this system.

If a body part is repeatedly described as bad, fragile, or damaged, the nervous system learns that it’s unsafe. Over time, this increases vigilance and reduces confidence in movement. And this can be incredibly detrimental to not only our physical quality of life but to our mental and emotional state as well.

From language → behaviour → load

The words we use shape how we move.

If you believe you have a bad back, you’re more likely to:

• Move cautiously or avoid movement altogether

• Brace excessively

• Offload that area and overload others

• Hesitate, rush, or hold your breath during movement

This changes how load travels through your body. Ironically, the area you’re trying to protect often becomes less adaptable, not more.

Reframing isn’t denial — it’s accuracy

This isn’t about pretending pain isn’t real. It’s about describing what’s actually happening.

Examples I often use in clinic:

• “Bad back” → A protective or overloaded back – or just a very good back, that’s doing too much!

• “Weak shoulder” → A shoulder that hasn’t been exposed to enough variety or load yet – or a shoulder that is exhausted from overwork and now appears weak

• “My body can’t do this anymore” → My body needs a different strategy right now

• “Rehab exercises” → Movement practice

  
  

These shifts matter because they:

• Reduce unnecessary threat

• Increase movement confidence

• Encourage gradual, appropriate loading

• Support long-term function, not avoidance

My clinical takeaway about language when discussing movement and pain

Compassion in rehab is not about doing less forever. It’s about being accurate.

A protective back isn’t broken.

A painful joint isn’t failing.

A nervous system on high alert isn’t weak — it’s doing its job.

When language reflects this reality, movement becomes clearer, calmer, and more effective.

This week, notice the language you use when you talk about your body — out loud or in your head.

Ask:

• Is this accurate?

• Does this describe protection, or damage?

• Does this help me move with confidence?

If you’d like support reframing movement, load, and recovery in a way that actually makes sense for your body, contact me today.