To stay as healthy as possible it’s important to lead an active lifestyle. Becoming more active isn’t difficult. It’s just a matter of finding activities you enjoy that you can take part in on a regular basis. Call Austin Manual Therapy Associates to find out how a physical therapy program can help you maintain maximum mobility and stay as active as possible. A physical therapist can do an evaluation and suggest exercises that can improve your strength, flexibility, and overall health. The following are five activities that can lead to a more healthy and active lifestyle.
1. Expand Your Social Life
A busy social life means a more active lifestyle. There are lots of ways to increase your social circle. The following are a few practical ways to get more involved socially.
- Pursue Your Favorite Sport – Everything from bowling and golf to ping pong or tennis are popular sports that are fun ways to stay in shape. They also involve socializing with other people.
- Take a Dance Class – Almost everyone naturally loves to dance, and there are lots of different types of dancing to take part in. Visiting a physical therapist may help get you physically prepared for dancing.
- Take More Walks – Even walking through the neighborhood with friends can improve your health and your social life. If you’re feeling tired and achy after moderate walking, a physical therapist can provide exercises to help strengthen muscles and increase flexibility.
- Become a Volunteer – Getting out in your community and volunteering for a cause you believe in is a fantastic way to stay active.
2. Get a Bicycle
If you don’t own a bicycle, now is the time to get one. If you do have a bike, you may want to upgrade it or at least get it serviced to make sure it’s in good working order. Riding a bicycle is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to stay active. Riding a bicycle will not only keep you active, but it can potentially save you money. You can save on gas and maintenance costs by riding a bike instead of always driving a car. A physical therapist can show you the best way to ride the type of bike you own.
If you haven’t been on a bicycle for several years, you can start out riding just a few times each week. Even 15 or 20 minutes twice a week is a good start. If you live relatively close to work and there are lanes for biking nearby, you may want to consider riding to work a few days each week. The great thing about biking is that you can go as slow or as fast as you’re able. You can start by just riding around the neighborhood and build up to riding a dozen or more miles each week.
3. Drink More Water
Try to replace all sugary drinks with ice cold water instead. Add a bit of lemon for flavor. There are several ways that drinking more water can make you healthier and help you lead a more active lifestyle.
- Drinking an adequate amount of water can help maintain healthy blood pressure and heart rate.
- Dehydration can sometimes lead to stress, anger, and negative mood changes.
- Having enough water in your system may help improve cognitive functioning.
- Drinking plenty of water can improve your workouts, which keep you healthier and more active.
4. Start a Garden
Gardening is a great activity that can help promote a more active lifestyle on several levels. First, the act of planting, watering, and weeding promotes physical activity. Spending just 30 minutes a day, several days a week gardening may burn as many calories as a moderate workout would. Even a small patch of ground can be used to grow several types of plants or flowers.
Secondly, the produce that is harvested can be part of a healthy diet. It’s important to note that gardening can be done almost anywhere, even in the city. It isn’t necessary to have a couple acres of land or even a small plot in the backyard to garden. Container gardening can be done on a patio, a balcony, or even a window sill. A physical therapist can show you ways of lifting items and bending over to promote strength and limit the possibility of injury.
5. Visit a Physical Therapist
Whether you just want to increase strength, stamina, and flexibility or improve competitive athletic performance, physical therapy can help you reach these goals. A physical therapist will likely start by doing an evaluation and creating a personalized program to meet your individual needs. Physical therapy can provide the following benefits:
- Those who are suffering from arthritis may experience relief after visiting a physical therapist. An individualized physical therapy plan can reduce arthritis pain and increase flexibility and improve mobility.
- If you’ve been injured in an auto accident and have been experiencing chronic pain, physical therapy may be able to help you find relief. Instead of risky surgeries or relying on potentially addictive drugs, physical therapy may be able to help you regain your strength quickly and safely.
- If you’ve recently had surgery, physical therapy can help you recover more quickly. Pre-surgery physical therapy is often recommended so you’re in the best shape possible before having surgery.
- Even if you’re not experiencing any of the previous conditions, a physical therapist can show you ways to sit, stand, and move more effectively. This will improve posture and your ability to enjoy daily activities.
Getting involved in an activity you enjoy is crucial to maintaining long term health. A physical therapist can put together personalized exercises that can help prevent injuries and increase your enjoyment in the activities you engage in. A physical therapy program might include massage therapy, electrical stimulation, or ultrasound. Contact Austin Manual Therapy Associates to find out how physical therapy can help you stay as active and healthy as possible.
