Looking to Increase Your Physical Activity? PT Can Help!
Maintaining a high level of physical activity can possibly lengthen your life as well as improve the overall quality.
According to PT in Motion News, 80 percent of Americans aren’t meeting physical activity guidelines set forth by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Finding the time or the motivation to exercise is difficult for many people.
The key is to find a fun activity that you enjoy doing and that also fits your current fitness level. If you spend your days hobbling painfully from your bed to your reclining chair and back, the notion of pursuing any kind of vigorous activity may be the furthest thing from your mind.
The truth, however, is that getting active can vastly improve your health, your comfort, mobility, and overall quality of life. The following are five fun activities that can be adapted to fit almost any fitness level:
1. Get started with PT sessions!
A physical therapist can evaluate your current physical condition and assess your fitness level.
Whether you’re currently moving with assistance or you’re a serious athlete, physical therapy can help you increase your fitness level, reduce your chance of injury, and eliminate pain from sore muscles.
A physical therapist can also teach you the proper techniques for warming up before your chosen activity and the best post-workout stretches for an effective cooldown.
2. Enjoy the outdoors and garden
Whether you live in the country or an urban area, there are opportunities to enjoy gardening. Container gardening is an easy way to grow flowers and vegetables almost anywhere.
Four or five medium-sized containers on the patio are enough to grow several items. Planting, hoeing with a hand spade, and regularly watering your plants can provide a moderate level of activity.
3. Opt for the rowing machine at the gym
The treadmill and the stationary bike may be more popular, but the rowing machine is a great way to get a good workout even if you’re not in top physical shape.
Learning to use a rowing machine is relatively easy. It’s also low impact while offering high calorie-burning potential. The great thing about the rowing machine is that you can do it while sitting down.
4. Go for a swim
Swimming is low impact, easy on the joints, and provides a good cardio workout. The best way to get started is to sign up for a class at your local Y or fitness club.
There are several different swimming strokes to learn. The backstroke is one of the easiest to do. Whether you’re swimming laps, floating, or tossing an inflated ball with a friend, swimming is a fun yet healthy activity.
If you have access to a private pool, for both accountability and safety reasons, make sure to swim with a partner.
5. Take some dance lessons
There are several different types and levels of dancing to choose from. Everything from ballroom to ballet are fun activities that people at different fitness levels can enjoy.
You can take lessons or join a group that gets together to dance on a regular basis. If you don’t want to make the commitment or spend the money taking classes, dancing on your own while listening to your favorite music is a fantastic way to get moving and burn calories.
Depending on your weight and how strenuously you’re able to dance, you’ll be able to burn approximately 200 to 300 calories during half an hour of dancing.
Consult with a physical therapist today!
You can pursue any or all of these activities at your leisure, or you can ask our physical therapist about integrating them into a full-scale physical therapy program. The latter approach could prove especially wise if you’re rehabilitating an injury, unsure of your exercise tolerance, or battling a particular chronic pain issue.
Our physical therapist can evaluate your health and prescribe the right activities for your needs and goals. At the same time, you may be able to enhance the benefits of your activities with other safe, helpful modalities such as massage, ultrasound therapy, dry needling, cold and heat treatments, acupuncture, or laser therapy. These therapies can promote tissue repair, ease inflammation, reduce pain, and increase your ability to keep moving and having a great time.
A physical therapy program can increase your fitness level and help you make the most of your favorite activities. Looking to get moving? Contact us today!
