Want to Stay Healthy? Move More.

COVID has certainly made the importance of health very clear and we have all seen how quickly things can change with an illness. While COVID is currently front and center in most people’s thoughts, it isn’t the only thing out there that can change your life. Heart disease, diabetes, strokes and cancer can all be devastating too.

Movement offers a defense

If you’re looking to be more resilient and defend against these things, physical activity can do it. The dangers of being sedentary are well known and documented in the research. Excessive sitting (physical inactivity) and sedentary time have even been called the new smoking. For many of us, sitting and being inactive is part of our jobs. However, research has shown that getting in enough movement can counteract the negative effects of being physical inactive. It’s never too late to start and improve longevity and quality of life.

Recent reviews of literature have shown that physical inactivity is a cause for many chronic conditions. One review found that physical activity actually speeds up the aging process. Physical inactivity was also found to lead to greater fat accumulation around the organs within the thorax. This leads to inflammatory pathways becoming activated and systemic insulin resistance (precursor to diabetes), neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis (build up of fat deposits in the arteries) and tumor growth. National and global heath organizations including the CDC and WHO recommend physical activity to prevent chronic disease development.

Physical Therapists Are Unequaled Experts in Human Movement

While walking was the activity in this particular study, other research has shown that all kinds of movement can help protect your health. If you’re looking to get those protective benefits for yourself you could choose to walk, bike, lift weights, dance or garden. If you’re not moving as much or as well as you’d like, see your physical therapist. PTs are the most qualified professionals on the planet to help you move better and allow you to stay healthy and enjoy life. From designing a program to get you started or moving more to helping you recover from an injury, your PT is the right person to look to for help.

Body Harmony Physical Therapy offers special one to one personal training sessions. These are designed to improve posture, incorporate individual exercises specific for your health and medical history. We are here to help you in staying healthy and meet your personal health goals.

References:

1. Three paragraphs provided by APTA Private Practice Section
2. Booth, F.W., Roberts, C.K., Thyfault, J.P., Ruegsegger, G.N., Toedebusch, R.G., Role of Inactivity in Chronic Diseases: Evolutionary Insight and Pathophysiological Mechanisms, Physiological Reviews, American Physiological Society, 08/2017.
3. CDC Article: Physical Activity Prevents Chronic Disease
4. WHO: Physical inactivity a leading cause of disease and disability, warns WHO.