Get Moving with This PT Advice!
Do you get up and move around every day? This can extend your life, improve your mood, and assist you in maintaining a healthy weight. The movement also helps to improve your strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance, which can all assist you in managing chronic pain and other health conditions.
Regular physical activity is so important that our physical therapy team is always looking for new ways to help our patients get moving. Read on for our suggestions, or contact Preferred PT Associates to learn more about how physical therapy can help you live a more active life!
Did you know there is proven success of physical therapy?
Clinical studies back up the benefits of physical therapy for conditions such as osteoporosis. Patients were recruited from the osteoporosis outpatient clinics of Klinikum Südstadt hospital and the University hospital of Rostock to participate in osteoporosis physical therapy.
44 osteoporosis patients completed a twice-weekly 30-minute intensive exercise program over a three-month period. Physical therapy reduced pain and improved function, with sling exercise patients benefiting the most.
44 osteoporosis patients completed a twice-weekly 30-minute intensive exercise program over a three-month period. Physical therapy reduced pain and improved function, with sling exercise patients benefiting the most.
Ready to live a more active and comfortable life?
The top reason most people give for not staying active is that they are in pain. According to the National Institute of Health, most Americans experience chronic pain on a daily basis.
Nearly 40 million adults report moderate to severe pain, which is concerning and may indicate underlying health issues.
But there is some good news! Physical therapy is an effective and simple way to alleviate the majority of your pain.
A licensed physical therapist’s manual therapy or ultrasound treatments can significantly improve a person’s condition, help alleviate pain, and restore joint and muscle function.
Our suggestions below will also assist you in maintaining physical function and living a pain-free life. Below are seven ideas to keep in mind!
1. Walk as much as you can.
No need to overcomplicate things. Even just standing and walking more throughout your day can help you stay physically active!
To get your steps in, be sure to take the stairs, stand at your desk, go for walks with your loved ones or co-workers, and avoid sitting for more than an hour at a time.
2. Use short breaks to get your exercise in.
While a good goal is to get at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity, you don’t necessarily have to do all 30 minutes at once.
It’s still possible to benefit from doing several shorter bouts of exercise throughout the day—perfect if you have a packed schedule and only short windows of time to get moving.
3. Develop a support system for your exercise goals.
In our experience, our patients do better when they have other people in their lives who support their efforts to get more active. So, encourage your loved ones to join you in your commitment to getting moving, or sign up for a group workout class—whatever you need to help you stay more accountable.
Are you currently living with a chronic health problem? Connect with an online or in-person support group in your area so you can interact with other people living with your condition and motivate each other to stay more active.
4. Create a workout routine.
Whether you love to work out in the morning, take a midday brisk walk during lunch, or hit the gym after work, it’s helpful to do your workout close to the same time every day. This helps you establish a consistent routine so you can get the most benefits out of your exercise over the long term.
In addition, consider adding your workouts into your weekly planner, just like you would do with any other appointment. Knowing when you’re going to work out ahead of time helps you stick to your plan.
5. Use commercial breaks to your advantage.
Commercial breaks are annoying. But instead of flipping the channel or scrolling through your phone the next time an ad comes on, you can use it as an opportunity to stand up and get a little activity in.
Whether you choose a quick yoga flow, some simple chair stretches, or even your physical therapy exercises, there’s plenty you can do right in the comfort of your own living room.
6.Take up a new hobby that gets you moving.
It doesn’t really matter what type of physical activity you do—what matters most is whether you’re consistent with it!
So, figure out which types of exercises you love and focus on these.
7. Book an appointment with a physical therapist.
A lot of people don’t get enough physical activity every day because they’re dealing with chronic pain that can make it difficult, uncomfortable, and sometimes unsafe to move.
One of the biggest benefits of working with a physical therapist is that he or she can provide services that alleviate your pain, improve your balance, function, and strength, and increase your confidence and self-efficacy so daily exercise is manageable.
Want more assistance? Contact us today
Are you interested in learning more about how physical therapy can help promote a healthy, active lifestyle? To make an appointment, please contact Preferred PT Associates as soon as possible!