Getting the Most Out of Your Workouts

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can reduce your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes or cancer. It also reduces your risk of stroke, dementia, osteoporosis, and obesity. Exercise can even help with your mood, sleep, and overall quality of life.

Despite all of these benefits, most Americans need more. According to the Department of Health, 80% of Americans do not meet the recommendations for physical activity, and the impact of this on our health is evident. In fact, about half of American adults have a preventable chronic disease. The good news is that exercise positively impacts seven of the ten most common ones. That leads to the question: are you getting enough activity?

Older adults are recommended to get: 

• 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly
• Muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days a week
• Balance training 

If you are falling short on physical activity, you may not think of your physical therapist as someone who can help, but you should!

Physical therapists have extensive training in anatomy, physiology, and movement science. They can get anybody moving! Here are some great times to choose a physical therapist to help with your fitness:

With your physical therapist’s guidance, you can address limitations, prevent injuries, and design a personalized program that keeps you motivated and moving towards a healthier you. Live Your Life physical therapists and our personal trainers are here and ready to help you. We even have a Live Your Life SENIOR FITNESS program built just for goals like getting enough exercise. Prevent disease today!

References

1. Rhodes RE, Fiala B. Building motivation and sustainability into the prescription and recommendations for physical activity and exercise therapy: the evidence. Physiother Theory Pract. 2009;25(5-6):424-441. doi:10.1080/09593980902835344
2. Verhagen E, Engbers L. The physical therapist’s role in physical activity promotion. Br J Sports Med. 2009;43(2):99-101. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2008.053801
3.  Nicolson PJA, Hinman RS, French SD, Lonsdale C, Bennell KL. Improving Adherence to Exercise: Do People With Knee Osteoarthritis and Physical Therapists Agree on the Behavioral Approaches Likely to Succeed?. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(3):388-397. doi:10.1002/acr.23297
4. Hoover DL, VanWye WR, Judge LW. Periodization and physical therapy: Bridging the gap between training and rehabilitation. Phys Ther Sport. 2016;18:1-20. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2015.08.003