Eating a varied diet and going to your routine checkups are great ways to maintain your health, but it shouldn’t stop there. While many people overlook this aspect of wellness, physical activity can play a significant role in your well-being.
Your health matters to everyone here at Mid-County Physical Therapy. To ensure that your body is as strong and healthy as can be, we’ve put together this handy primer for how to incorporate more physical activity into your lifestyle.
How it Helps
Routine physical activity improves your health and quality of life. What’s more, when you work to maintain your physical wellness, you may also notice an overall increase in your mental and emotional wellness.
Physical Health
The ways physical activity benefits your physical well-being are endless.
For instance, exercising for at least 150 minutes per week can significantly lower your risk of getting cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even breast, colon, and lung cancers.
Exercise can also help aid recovery after an injury. Whether you twisted an ankle or sprained a knee, a physical therapist can prescribe exercises that will help restore your damaged muscles.
Regular physical activity can even strengthen your immune system. If you work out regularly, you may find yourself catching colds or other viruses far less often.
This list is by no means complete; these are just a few examples of the ways physical activity can help improve your health.
Mental Health
It’s not just for your body — exercise can help improve the health of your mind, too!
There is some evidence to suggest that physical activity can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. When you do high-intensity activities that raise your heart rate, it can help your brain produce serotonin which, in turn, helps regulate your mood.
Physical activity can also help improve your self-esteem and your sense of independence. The older we get, the more exercise and maintenance become a necessity. When you take care of your physical health, it can help you feel control over your body. You may even feel a sense of pride and accomplishment after workouts.
Ways to Increase Your Physical Activity
If you can move your body in any way, you can probably increase your physical activity levels.
One great way to motivate yourself to exercise is to use step-counting technology. Whether it’s a simple pedometer from the dollar store or a fancy smartwatch, knowing how many (or how few) steps you’ve taken in a day can motivate you to do a little extra walking.
Even if you have a disability, there are still ways to increase your physical activity. Activities such as horseback riding, wheelchair basketball, or water aerobics can be suitable for getting physical activity even if you have a mobility aid.
Of course, while getting exercise is important, you should never overwork yourself. Don’t force yourself to do activities that cause severe pain or could put your health at risk. If you are unsure of whether something is safe for you, it may be helpful to discuss it with a trusted physical therapist.
Contact Mid-County Physical Therapy Today
It’s safe to conclude that physical activity improves your health and quality of life.
That said, it’s not always easy to increase your level of activity. Sometimes you just don’t have the time. Sometimes you don’t necessarily know how to make the best use of the time you have. And sometimes, whether due to injury, recent surgery, illness, or a lack of conditioning, even simple physical activities can be exhausting or painful.
The courteous and expert staff at Mid-County Physical Therapy is here to help. We can assist you in recovering from activity-inhibiting issues and also aid in designing an individualized activity plan that will make you feel healthier and happier than ever.
Visit Mid-County Physical Therapy today and start enjoying a higher quality of life.