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 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 sedentary.
A large study done in the U.K. found no association between the amount of time people spent sedentary and their chances of illness. But the authors didn't conclude that being sedentary is OK. Instead, they felt their findings were likely "attributable to a protective effect of the high volumes of daily walking." The study was conducted in London, where people tend to spend much more time walking or standing than average. The people in the study had daily walking times that were over double the average amount reported in the U.K.
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.
At GroupHab physical therapy and wellness we offer more than just one on one physical therapy. Our TherHab fitness program is physical therapist designed and led group fitness classes for seniors. We offer a wide range of classes that focus on strength, balance, stamina, and flexibility. We are experienced in helping seniors gain and maintain a better level of functioning, decreasing their risks for falls, and gaining an overall improved level of fitness. We all have experienced different aches, pains, and movement dysfunctions. At GroupHab we know that with proper exercise you can create better physical habits and prevent and decrease your overall pain. This month we are partnering with the Arthritis Foundation to share a free virtual exercise series specifically for individuals with arthritis and joint pain. We would love to have you join us! Here is the link to register. For more information on all that GroupHab has to offer, please visit our website at www.grouphab.com or call our office at 864-525-2654.