How Fort Fitness Athletes Stay Consistent (Even When Something Hurts)

If you train hard, you’re going to feel something from time to time. Tight hips. A cranky shoulder. A low back that’s a little louder than usual. That’s not weakness and it’s not a sign you should disappear until you feel “perfect.” Here’s how we deal with aches and pains at Fort Fitness relentlessly, empathetically, and intelligently.

1. Come to class.When something feels off, that’s the moment coaching matters most! Show up so we can give you the right workout for your capacity today. An achey knee is not a good enough reason to hinder your consistency.

2. Communicate early and clearly with your coach

Communication is a shared responsibility. Communicate clearly and early so we can dose your training with precision. Communication isn’t about avoiding risk, but about improving accuracy, like calibrating dosage in healthcare. The right information leads to the right prescription.

3. Modify only when it’s warranted by using the 4 Pain Rules. If pain creeps past a 4/10, or you lose confidence in what you’re doing, we adjust. Not before. Not after it’s flared up. The goal isn’t to avoid challenge, it’s to train smart. Modify only when the Pain Rules tell us the dosage isn’t right. Pain is information we use to adjust, not avoid.

4. Still. Come. To. Class.At Fort Fitness, we coach. We don’t just sell workouts. Scaling is progression, not regression. Our job is to scale and then progress you back toward 100% as safely, effectively, and efficiently as possible. Consistency is the critical variable in predictable outcomes.

5. If things aren’t improving, level up your support.If you’ve been scaling appropriately, working closely with your coach, and pain isn’t trending better after 8 weeks, it’s time to level up. A trusted Physical Therapist can be a powerful part of your team.

Aches and pains don’t mean you’re broken, the programming is dangerous, or you dis something wrong. They mean you’re human and likely doing something worthwhile. Our promise at Fort Fitness is to meet you where you are, coach you through it, and keep you training for the long haul.

Show up.

Speak up.

Trust the process.

We’ve got you!