New book, Built to Last After 50, reveals how to regain control, mobility, and confidence as you age

According to AgeUK’s 2025 GP Patient Survey, 3 out of 5 people (59%) aged 55-64 say their long-term condition or illness reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. When they do choose to seek help, many are given painkillers and a generic printout of exercises that don’t fit their life – followed by the all-too-familiar phrase: “Come back in six months.” That moment can feel dismissive and demoralising, like the pain doesn’t matter or that their independence and their future aren’t urgent enough to fix right now.

For chartered physiotherapist and founder of award-winning physiotherapy clinic Urban Body, Phil Evans, it doesn’t have to be this way. Pain and stiffness are not inevitable parts of aging; they are signs to take action. This is the galvanising call-to-action of his new book, Built to Last After 50: The truth about arthritis, strength, and staying independent (Rethink Press), empowering individuals in their fifties, sixties, and beyond to invest in their movement and strength so they can enjoy the freedom of living life on their own terms. 

Evans started his over twenty-year career in elite sport, working with top rugby players, professional cricketers, and Olympic athletes. It is these very same strategies used to keep elite performers at the top of their game that can help over-50s stay active, independent, and free from painkillers. For too long, these have been locked away in the world of sport, leaving everyday people waiting, guessing, and losing hope. 

Rather than trends, hacks, or miracle fixes, Built to Last After 50 cuts through the noise with clear, practical guidance to help readers understand arthritis, ageing, and muscle loss – and crucially, what they can do about it. Structured across ten accessible chapters, Evans explores everything from identifying the root cause of pain and challenging common misconceptions about arthritis, to the hidden costs of painkillers and stress, and how to rebuild mobility, capacity, and mindset. At its core, Evans shows readers “wear and tear” isn’t the endgame, and that with the right plan, it can be slowed, stopped, or even reversed.

Importantly, the book challenges the most damaging myths about age, which often fuel fear, avoidance, and unrealistic goals. Instead, Evans advocates that this isn’t a one-time fix or one-size-fits-all, but a proactive roadmap to get off the pain merry-go-round with natural, science-backed ways to reduce discomfort and restore strength. 

Underscored throughout is the importance of recovery through Evans’ “The Recovery Triangle” – sleep, hydration, and daily movement – alongside insights into factors that become increasingly important with age, such as hormones, circulation, and resting heart rate. The book explores a range of recovery tools, from simple methods like ice baths and saunas to more advanced options like neuromuscular stimulation, red light therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen. 

Built to Last After 50 is the ideal read for anyone over fifty who wants to move from coping and struggling to regaining control, mobility, and confidence. Whether a grandparent who wants to stay playful, the retired professional who wants to keep travelling and enjoying life, or a health-conscious individual who refuses to settle for just putting up with it, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s resilience.