How discomfort can start from your feet

If you want to be able to walk, run and jump freely for life, be mindful of how you treat your joints when you move right now (especially during workouts). Try to keep light on your feet, especially when you run or do a workout that requires you to jump (ex. Plyometrics).

Rather than mindlessly slamming your foot on a surface when you move, try to move light on your feet. You can tell when you're being heavy on your feet just by the noise you make when your foot lands on a surface. Try to make less noise — this way you know you're practicing to be lighter on your feet.

Example:

When walking or running, try to "place" one foot after the other, not "land" one foot after the other. Practice this better habit of movement. It may be hard at first to correct years of bad movement, but it will challenge you to be better and inevitably make you stronger for years to come.

When you do jumping movements, try to absorb the shock or impact of the landing by landing lightly on the ball of your foot first, then roll back towards the heel of your foot . Don't just mindlessly slam the bottom of your foot on the surface. This will severely stress out your joints. The impact will sooner or later cause pain in your ankles, knees, hips, butt and back.

So keep light on your feet. Your joints will thank you. Your back will thank you. Heck, your whole body will thank you!