Often when treating patients we see bodies that have been harmed, or pain that has been worsened because of inactivity or sedentary lifestyles. Sometimes this is a result of illness or injury, but often it is the result of a slow fade away from exercise and activity as we age. Our bodies are made to move and when we don’t, we experience injuries, health complications, and decreased quality of life. 

The Effects of Not Moving Regularly

These are just a FEW of the many, many risks that result from a sedentary lifestyle[1]:

• Poor carbohydrate metabolism
• Increased cancer risk
• Decreased cardiac output
• Weight gain
• Reduced insulin sensitivity
• Increased chronic inflammation
• Increased risk of diabetes and hypertension

At the end of a successful round of physical therapy, the goal is for a patient to transition into independent strengthening for continued recovery. By the time a person’s pain is gone, or nearly gone, they are usually able to continue management independently. This not only cuts down on medical costs for seeking care, but helps build self-efficacy and the thought process that one can manage one’s own rehabilitation and strengthening program after discharge. 

The problem is, many of us don’t have this thought process. Often people think they will participate in 6-8 weeks of rehab and then go back to their sedentary patterns of behavior. But the body wasn’t made for that, we were made to move! Our world has shifted to a more technology dominant lifestyle with computers and gadgets that do so many of the jobs that our moving bodies used to do.  

How We Should Think About Movement & Health

Many of us need a complete overhaul of the way we think of moving our bodies and rehabilitating our pain, with two big ideas. 

1. We will always need to keep our bodies active to be healthy, feel good and increase longevity. Seek to add activities you like into your lifestyle, trying little things like increasing the number of steps you take in a day, taking the stairs instead of an elevator, or making your weekend more active with a kayaking trip or visiting a new park. Don’t buy that electronic vacuum if it’s going to keep you from getting up and getting the movement you need. The key is to choose things that appeal to you and find a way to continue doing them. 
2. So often our injuries are not completely random but are due to a chronic pattern of weakness or muscle imbalance. Many people have to return to therapy after months or years because they stopped doing the exercises that improved their pain, and the patterns of weakness or imbalance returned. Our mindset has to change from “do the exercises to decrease pain” to “maintain muscle strength to avoid pain and injury”. 

Everyone needs to strengthen and move their body. Make a point of finding a routine or finding some exercises to build a better you starting today.

And, if you want help and guidance from a licensed clinician to safely start exercising to improve your health and mobility, feel free to give us a call or book an appointment online.

Courtney O’Neal, PT, DPT. Courtney graduated from Clemson University in 2010, and went on to get her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Augusta University in 2013. She has treated children and adults since 2013, and enjoys working with patients on improving health and wellness, helping them meet their goals, and returning to their highest level of function.

Reference

[1] Jung Ha Park, Ji Hyun Moon, Hyeon Ju Kim, Mi Hee Kong and Yun Hwan Oh. Sedentary Lifestyle: Overview of Updated Evidence of Potential Health Risks. Korean Journal of Family Medicine. 2020.