Yes, lifting weights can lead to wear and tear on the body if not done with proper form or excessively heavy weights. To mitigate this risk, focus on proper technique, incorporate rest days, vary your workouts, and listen to your body's signals to prevent overtraining and reduce the risk of injury.

Lifting heavy weights can caused increased stress on joints. Otherwise, weight training is an excellent way to improve muscle strength, conditioning, and to delay the onset of arthritis. If you have any additional questions regarding weight training, I would be happy to give you recommendations.

No, anyone telling you that 'using your body' is going to cause 'wear and tear' is either misinformed themselves or is trying to sell you some kind of product; vitamin, ergonomic device or their own exercise plan.

Exercise has been shown time and time again to have a protective effect on all systems of the body from cardiovascular gains, brain and cognition gains to stronger tendons and joints, etc.

The short answer is yes but so does any physical activity. The good benefits of weight lifting out weight are much more than those of wear and tear.
The keys to weight lifting are:
1) body mechanics
2) proper progression
3) goals of weight lifting.

Going to the gym and lifting weights is not a bad thing at all as long you take precautions to prevent injuries of which stretching is very important. If you are in pain first fix it with a PT before you go back to the gym.
Regards
Dr. Ramky Kavaserry DPT

Weight lifting with good supervision from a personal trainer is always a good idea.

Yes it can however a good strengthening program should give ample time for each muscle group to recover from the previous workout. A good periodization program will not have you working out the same muscle groups 2 days in a row. For most, going to the gym for strengthening is best at 3 days per week with 1 day between for recovery. Off days can be used to address cardiovascular systems. Good luck.

There's a bad stigma on weight lifting. Weight training is good. However, don't push through pain. Pain is your nervous system telling you there is something going on or may be going on.