Moving every day has the ability to strengthen every aspect of your body, from your brain to your joints. It’s also not just about high-intensity, sweat-inducing exercise. It’s simple: increasing your everyday mobility will help improve your overall health, whether you want to incorporate small movements into your routine or try a new exercise like cycling or yoga.
It is fair to assume that you are conscious that exercise is beneficial to your wellbeing. Even so, many people associate the term “exercise” with feelings of tension and responsibility. When did the act of simply moving your body become such a chore? Simply put, movement is another term for exercise. Since moving is one of your body’s most basic activities, it should never be a chore!
It’s time to stop thinking of physical exercise as a commitment requiring you to run five miles or bench press your body weight. The demand can be far less strenuous and should be appropriate for your fitness level.
Start Small
Try 10 minutes of full-body stretches, laps around the house while on the phone, a stroll around the city, or 15 minutes of yoga. Your every step adds up! Small changes can have a big effect on your physical and mental well-being and you can do it all without even leaving the house.
Benefits of Movement
BONES: Movement aids in the development of stronger, denser bones. Resistance training (weights), weight-bearing workouts (jogging, cycling, hiking), and balance training (yoga) are all good ways to improve bone density.
MUSCLES: You have over 600 muscles in your body, which account for about 40% of your total body weight. You strengthen your muscles by running, which strengthens your flexibility, balance, and coordination. Don’t forget that stretching is also beneficial to your muscle health.
BRAIN: Walking for 30-40 minutes three days a week will help “grow” the brain structures linked to cognitive impairment in older adults. Make an effort to go for walks if you work from home or spend a lot of time sitting.
JOINTS: Since yoga is all about body consciousness, you’ll be forced to focus on each movement. You can improve coordination and balance, be more aware of joint alignment, and relax by being aware of how you move. Yoga also improves joint stability and function by encouraging flexibility and range of motion.
LUNGS: Maintaining a high heart rate increases cardiorespiratory endurance. An ideal alternative is circuit training with a personal trainer or in a community fitness class. However, you are not required to perform a high-intensity movement. Instead, try BODYFLOW or Yoga Sculpt, which will still work the lungs but at a slower rate.
HEART: The British Heart Foundation estimates that keeping fit will prevent 10,000 fatal heart attacks each year, so get going and try cycling to improve your heart health. Cycling on a regular basis will reduce the risk of heart disease by half.
Our Best Advice
Set a reminder for yourself to go for a walk if you like it. Try a group fitness class if you’re interested in yoga but haven’t taken the plunge yet. Here are some tips about how to get started if you used to run and want to get back into it.
Just move and avoid inactivity! Find something or several activities you love to do and commit to it daily.
Physical Therapy
The musculoskeletal and neuromuscular structures are involved in human movement. Physical therapists (PTs) are specialists in the area of kinesiology, which studies how the body works. As a result, physical therapists are well-versed in the importance of movement for both work and overall health.
Because of the difficulty and amount of wear and tear exerted on the musculoskeletal system on a daily basis, our bodies are vulnerable to accidents, aches, pains, and disease. Working with a human movement specialist, such as a physical therapist, will help you develop a strong base for long-term health. Physical therapists will recommend exercises to enhance the function and range of motion of a joint for people who are unable to function and move due to injury or degeneration from a disease. To strengthen your flexibility, stamina, coordination, or endurance, you can do exercises like walking or lifting weights. If patients don’t respond well to their physical therapy regiment and end up needing surgical intervention, your physical therapist will work with your doctor every step of the way. This collaboration will maximize your recovery and prevent re-injury.
So many of us believe we must simply live with the discomfort that arises as a result of inactivity, dysfunctional movement, or injury; however, Desert Edge Physical Therapy is here to help you recover proper motion so you can engage in the activities you enjoy. Seek help if you need Sports Medicine Care, Orthopedic Care, or Post-Surgery recovery.
To learn more about how physical therapy can help, call Desert Edge Physical Therapy at 623-334-8767 to request an appointment, or request an appointment online.
What To Expect From Physical Therapy?
Working with a physical therapist who will help you regain your physical function is a perfect way to get back to your pain-free life and the things you enjoy after an accident or chronic pain. We’d like to give you a sneak peek at what your physical therapy experience could entail, as well as some pointers on how to make the most of your time with us at Desert Edge Physical Therapy in Peoria, Arizona.
Your Initial Assessment
Your first meeting with your therapist has a lot to cover as it will be providing you a detailed explanation of your pain and when it began, as well as activities that exacerbate or strengthen your condition, and your physical therapy goals. Questions your physical therapist will most likely ask you, here at Desert Edge Physical Therapy are:
- How did your pain start? Was there an injury or did it start gradually?
- How long have you been dealing with it?
- How would you describe your pain? Is it dull, achy, sharp, stabbing, electric, burning, numb & tingly?
- What types of activities bother you? What activities make it worse/better?
When your doctor has a good understanding of your issue, he will conduct diagnostic tests and measurements, then spend time educating you about your condition and suggesting a recovery plan. Your therapist’s intention is to get you back to doing the things you enjoy as soon as possible. He may prescribe a frequency of 2 or 3 times per week for a period of 4, 6, or 8 weeks, depending on your condition.
You will begin treatment with your first visit now that you have a treatment plan in place, which will most likely include physical therapy (stretching, soft tissue mobilization, active or passive range of motion, massage, and so on), modalities (heat/ice, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and so on), and exercise.
Your first counseling session will most likely be the longest. Daily recovery appointments, including manual therapy, modalities, and exercise, will be scheduled for the remainder of your visits. Any manual therapy you undergo will be provided solely by your physical therapist. A clinical assistant will assist you with your workouts and set you up on modalities according to your therapist’s instructions.
Start your counseling session today and call Desert Edge Physical Therapy at 623-334-8767 to request an appointment, or request an appointment online.
