As we head into the colder months of the year, it is important to remain active and get regular exercise. Last week’s blog discussed how to get started and who to go to for help with exercise recommendations, this week we follow up with the benefits of exercise. Exercise has many benefits to your physical, mental, present, and future health. There are also many different kinds and forms of exercising to fit your lifestyle and preferences.
The physical benefits of exercise include:
- Building and maintaining bone density (especially with aging) with weight-bearing exercise.
- Prevention of heart disease and lowering blood pressure with cardiovascular and endurance training.
- Maintaining muscle mass for the performance of activities of daily living. Muscles follow the rule of use it or lose it.
- Promotion of flexibility in joints to help arthritis, maintain range of motion with wear and tear, and improve muscle flexibility.
- Increasing cell’s sensitivity to insulin for the uptake and usage of glucose in cells to aid in weight management and diabetes.
The mental benefits of exercise include:
- Increased release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkiller.
- Improved quality of life with better function.
- Stress relief through movement.
- Prevent deterioration of memory and cognitive function areas of the brain that are affected by age.
- Social interaction through meeting others on the trail, at the gym, or in a fitness class/group. Exercising with a buddy can provide accountability and companionship.
Physical activity doesn’t need to be elaborate or expensive. It can be as easy as taking the dog for daily walks, playing with your kids, doing a bodyweight workout at home, or saving time with high-intensity interval training. Check out our blog post about adding physical activity to your workday here. You can achieve these many benefits with cardio, resistance, and flexibility training. There are also a lot of free resources to use, just ensure you choose a credible source that is safe for your body. Choose a method and routine that fits your lifestyle and preferences to have consistent exercise in your daily life.
Before engaging in a new activity check with your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe to do so and it is the right program for your goals/needs. Our team at CURAVITA can help you start your exercise program and keep you functioning optimally to maintain your performance. Ask any of our providers if you need help getting started.