I was at the climbing gym a few weeks ago when I overheard 2 arborists talking about how busy they had been cleaning up the mess created by the big snowstorm we just got through. This made sense; there were split trees and downed branches everywhere. Then one said something that surprised me, but also felt very familiar. He said, “I tell my customers all the time that the best way to avoid significant damage from a storm like this is to do preventative maintenance, but only a small percentage of them ever take me up on it.”
I thought about this, and realized that it is true. We had some big branches come down in the ice storm last year, so we had the arborist out to trim the whole tree. This year there was no damage at all.
It’s the same thing with our body. Preventative maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your body resilient. This can be in the form of a regular yoga program, swimming, running, walking, weightlifting, martial arts, etc. Anything that keeps your body moving through its full range of motion, and challenges your musculoskeletal system makes your body more tolerant to not just the everyday stresses and strains of life, but also the falls, bumps, twists, and accidents that occur through a lifetime. (read more about how to design a healthy exercise program here)
As a place to start, the World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. click here for link to WHO website.
They also recommend 2 days per week of strengthening exercises for the major muscle groups of the body.
Remember, we are what we repeatedly do. So, if you want to feel good in your body; if you want to be able to “weather the storm”, preventative maintenance is where it’s at!
At Essential Physical Therapy, we are experts at more than just relieving your pain. We will help you understand better how to live in your body, and will give you the tools and strategies to help you return to to full health. Call for an appointment, and let us know how we can help.
Tags: exercises for back pain, exercise program, reasons for exercise
