Capacity
Train the Body: How Physical Experience Changes Us
Imagine two people performing exactly the same exercise.
One thinks:
“My knee is damaged. This exercise is probably wearing it out even more.”
The other thinks:
“My knee is sensitive right now, but this is an appropriate amount of load. I’m helping it become more capable.”
The mechanical load might be similar.
But the experience isn’t.
Our beliefs influence whether we move, how confidently we move, what we pay attention to, how threatening sensations feel, and whether we continue long enough to adapt.
This becomes especially important when pain is involved.
Pain can understandably make us cautious.
Sometimes caution is exactly what we need.
But sometimes we begin protecting ourselves long after protection is useful.
Paul Cramer
August 25, 2026