This week, I want to talk to you about exercise. Different medical conditions, or even just age, can make it more difficult to move around which often means that you won’t want to get out just to exercise. However, it has been scientifically proven that exercise can help keep your body working better with almost no exception. Here are a few gentle exercises that you can try if you are still a little unsteady when it comes to moving around.
- Walking. This is the basis to almost any cardio exercise. Although there are some that you can do while sitting or if you are wheelchair bound, if you are able to walk around, you definitely should. Walking is a great way to keep your joints nice and loose with minimal impact or need for expensive machinery. You can even do this indoors during bad weather if you prefer.
- Swimming. If you have access to a pool, you should use this to its fullest potential. Swimming and other water sports, like water aerobics, can be even better for you than walking if you have joint issues. This is because the water helps to take pressure off of your joints and allows for much easier movement than you would normally have with the normal gravitational pull that your body experiences on dry land.
- Strength Training. Strength training doesn’t need to be difficult or involve big machines. In fact, even picking up common household objects can be effective. If you have boxes or reusable bags that you can fill with things, this is a great way to build up muscle mass at your own pace. Increase the weight in these objects until you need to move up to something bigger. You can even do wall push-ups by bracing yourself against the wall while standing and doing push-ups. Even if you aren’t able to transfer this ability to the floor, it is a great place to start.
If you are unsure how to start exercising, or want to know some better methods for your specific situation, come into DiBella Chiropractic and we can work up a personalized exercise plan for you. While you’re here, try a spinal manipulation and see if that helps you move around easier. You never know how much a small thing like this can help until you try it!
