Miren Behaxeteguy, a 47-year old from Montpellier, France, is one of the 41 million European adults who suffer from migraine(偏头痛). They can strike several times a week and leave her unable to work normally. Earlier this year, the pain forced her to take prolonged sick leave from her job as a social worker.

“I hit a wall and decided I had to manage my pain in a different way,” says Behaxeteguy, a grandmother. “I’m now focused on being comfortable before and during an episode.”

As soon as she feels any pain surfacing, she puts on a hat containing ice packs and, on her neck, a grain-filled heat bag. She applies a variety of other prevention and management techniques, from relaxation to Pilates.

Regular physical activity can prevent and ease aches and pains in multiple ways. It improves your general emotional well-being, triggers the release of pain-relieving chemicals, and boosts blood flow and nutrients to your joints and tissues. “Exercise is important not only because of the ‘use it or lose it’ principle, but also because it increases confidence in your ability to do things,” says Wittink.

If you’re worried about worsening your pain or putting pressure on your joints, try gentle walking or low-impact exercises like tai chi or yoga. And if you’ve had a recent sports injury or are recovering from a surgery, a physiotherapist can often suggest at-home exercises that will help you to heal or improve your mobility.

In addition to doing exercises suggested by her physiotherapist and going to Pilates classes, Behaxeteguy does deep breathing exercises with the help of online videos. “It takes five minutes, and I can do them anywhere on my phone.”

And, she puts great stock in the healing power of keeping pets. “Walking my dog helps me exercise and get some air, and my cat’s purring(呼噜声) is incredibly calming. That’s my personal prescription!”

It’s no wonder they call her Iron Gran. At the age of 76, she’s the UK’s oldest female Ironman triathlete (铁人三项运动员), and has lost count of the number of marathons she has run. Just as incredible is the fact that Edwina Brocklesby or “Eddie” as she’s known only took up running in her 50s. With her boundless energy and infectious smile she inspires everyone she meets.

As well as her personal achievements, the super-granny also launched the charity Silverfit in 2013. It promotes sport for older people and started with events in London’s parks and has since grown to have 2,000 members. Silverfit offers a range of activities to the over-45s. To make sure no one is excluded due to cost, membership is only £12 per year. As Eddie says: “It’s absolutely essential with our aging population that—they age healthily and that they have fun doing so. Our core message is that it’s never too late to start exercising.”

Len Bass, 76, has been coming along for two years. He wanted to get fit after surviving stomach cancer that left him barely able to walk. Within weeks of joining he had begun to see a difference. “I was bent over when I started, but by the end of the first month I could run up hills. Thanks to Silverfit, today I am really fit, I am off all medication.”

And Marjorie Barnes, 62, from Dulwich added: “I had terrible back problems, and was walking with a stick when a friend recommended Silverfit. I joined Silverfit and within a year I’d alleviated (减轻) my back problems and even entered the London half marathon. I’ve got my freedom back and it’s all down to the wonderful Eddie. She’s amazing.”

Eddie’s personal drive to get fit was driven by her husband’s sudden death in his 50s. Now Eddie has completed at least 12 marathons. “Running with friends helped me dramatically after I lost my husband. My advice would be to make the best of your life, and have fun.”

Why play sports? You might say “to get exercise” and you would be right. To have fun? That's true, too. But there's more. 【小题1】 According to the Women's Sports Foundation, girls who play sports get a lot more than just fit.

Girls who play sports do better in school. You might think that athletics will take up all your study time. 【小题2】 Exercise improves learning, memory, and concentration, which can give active girls an advantage in the classroom.

Girls who play sports learn teamwork and goal-setting skills. 【小题3】 When working with coaches, trainers , and teammates to win games and achieve goals, you're learning how to be successful. Those skills will serve you well at work and in family life.

Sports are good for a girl's health. In addition to being fit and keeping a healthy weight, girls who play sports are also less likely to smoke. And later in life, girls who exercise are less likely to get breast cancer or osteoporosis(骨质疏松症).

Playing sports improves self-confidence. 【小题4】 Why? It builds confidence when you know you can practice, improve, and achieve your goals. Sports are also a feel-good activity because they help girls get in shape, keep a healthy weight, and make new friends.

【小题5】 Playing sports can reduce stress and help you feel a little happier. How? The brain chemicals leased during exercise improve a person's mood. Friends are another mood-lifter. And being in a team creates tight bonds between friends. It's good to know your teammates will support you-both on and off the field!