When our pelvic floor is both strong and flexible, the muscles work together — or “co-contract” — with the core muscles to allow us to live our daily lives with ease and to stay active as we age, said Ms. Hecht, who now runs the digital pelvic health provider PelvicSense.

Like many people working from home during the pandemic, Veronika Javor, 39, swapped a supportive desk chair in her office for a soft sofa chair in her living room. It was comfortable at first, but the new seat soon took a toll, as Ms. Javor, a Houston-based content creator, developed a sharp, radiating pain in her left buttock.

Len Kaplan began having difficulty walking in a straight line when he was in his 50s. Scoliosis combined with compressed discs in his back were causing his balance to deteriorate. “Physical therapy, regular exercises, just wasn’t getting the job done. I needed something different,” Len, now 80, said.

Our exercise habits may influence our sense of purpose in life and our sense of purpose may affect how much we exercise, according to an interesting new study of the reciprocal effects of feeling your life has meaning and being often in motion. The study, which involved more than 18,000 middle-aged and older men and women, found that those with the most stalwart sense of purpose at the start were the most likely to become active over time, and vice versa.

If you’re thinking more these days about your fitness regimen – or lack thereof – then you’re not alone. It’s the time of year when many Americans realize they are a little pudgier than they ought to be and resolve to slim down. In other words, it’s a money-making time for the gym industry

The past few years have not been kind to my lower back. Between the physical tolls of pregnancy, parenting and working from home, I have a constant stiff, achy feeling in my lower spine. I am not alone: It’s estimated that up to 80 percent of Americans will develop lower back pain during their lifetime, with 15 to 20 percent of adults reporting it in an average year.

Making a few changes to your habits early can slow these declines and prepare you for decades of physical activity, Ms. Baird said, from the functional (like chasing after grandchildren and lifting luggage) to the fun (like playing tennis and running half-marathons). Here’s how to get started, according to exercise scientists and trainers.

It happens to every gymgoer at some point. You’re getting ready to head to the gym or begin using a piece of equipment, and suddenly you feel stressed and anxious. Maybe it’s because of what you’re wearing, a lack of fitness, or uncertainty about how a group class will operate.