Getting Enough Exercise May Be Easier Than You Think
By Tom Herrin
Most of the time, when people think about starting or adding to an existing exercise routine, they imagine heavy workouts or covering more than a few miles on the track. This does not have to be the case at all. The key point to exercise is not that it builds big muscles or long distance endurance but that it is regular and causes the body to do work. This work is not necessarily a chore but something that challenges a bit so that there is some kind of increased breathing and heating of the muscles. The important thing seems to be that it is done with some kind of regularity and there is some kind of movement.
Older Does Not Mean Unable
Too many people see age as a limiting factor. How many people take up using something such as a cane when there is no real reason? That is not to say that they are never necessary. Some people use them because there is a need. In these cases, they may help to facilitate good rehab, but many seem to choose them just due to the fact that they are another year older. It has been speculated that fewer than 20 percent of people over 65 get the recommended amount of exercise. The recommendation is usually 2 1/2 to 3 hours per week. When they get this amount of moderate exercise, they may expect to maintain better health and avoid many chronic problems.
A Little Exercise May Improve Mental Health
One study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that exercise may cut the odds of having depression. In it, researchers found that subjects who did no real exercise had a 44 percent greater chance of developing depression than those who exercised as little as 1-2 hours per week.
Brief Exercise May Be a Good Bet
If we will simply find the opportunity to be a little more active, we may expect good results. It has been found that people who were sedentary, overweight, or obese could improve blood pressure by walking 30 minutes during the day. The good news is that this does not not all have to be at the same time. Finding ways to do more can help. If nothing else, parking at the edge of the parking lot when you shop or taking the stairs instead of the elevator may help you to do that. I try to do that with fairly good success.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Raleigh, N.C.