Pain is your body’s warning that you should back off. If you ignore sharp pains in your joints or muscles and try to push through them, you could get hurt.

But some pre- and post-workout soreness can be normal. Your joints might ache a little when you start to move but get better after a few minutes. Most people start to feel sore 12 to 24 hours after a sweat session and may still feel the burn 3 days later.

Good luck finding a doc who prescribes bed rest for aching joints. Too little exercise makes pain worse and can make you less mobile. You’re better off on the move! But stop if the exercise is causing pain or making the joint hurt more.

How does exercise help? It boosts blood flow and gets nutrients to your joints to keep them healthy. As you get stronger, your muscles can bear more weight and take some of the pressure off of your joints. And when your workouts help you lose weight, there’s less strain on your body. Talk to your doctor to see which activities are best for you.

Several studies show that low back aches get better for some people when they do yoga. One study found that those who started these workouts had less pain, better movement, and needed less medicine within just a few weeks. Talk to your doctor, then get your "om" on!

The key to safe exercise with joint pain is to start low and go slow. Start low means working out for just a few minutes at a time every other day. You could try taking a 5-minute walk at first.

Then, every 3 to 4 weeks, add about 10 minutes of activity at a time. The goal is to work up to 150 minutes of exercise per week.

When you do it right after a workout, you could feel less sore later on. It’s also safer to stretch your muscles when they’re warm.

But that doesn’t mean you should dive right into a workout. Always start with a warmup to boost your heart rate and blood flow to your muscles. Walk, jog, or bike for 5 to 10 minutes.

Don’t feel guilty about taking a day off. Rest days are a crucial part of an exercise program. Your body actually gets stronger as you take time to recover. It also helps prevent injuries. Schedule one to two rest days per week.

But before you cue up your Netflix queue, keep in mind “rest” doesn’t mean parking it on the couch all day. Plan some light activity, like walking. It helps improve blood flow to your muscles and aid recovery.