By: Scott Peters, PT, ATC – Clinic Director, Partner
The Lifelong Benefits of Staying Active
“There is no finish line” is the phrase that comes to mind when I think of exercise and being active. In turn, this also relates to all the wonderful benefits attached to the product of exercise and choosing a life of activity. Let the secret be out! Exercise and being active present many positive results (drumroll for suspense) such as living longer, needing fewer medications, being able to continue to participate in the things you love, increased energy levels, and an overall improved quality of life. This may include playing with children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews, etc.
To increase commitment and adherence, seek out a desired mode of exercise or activity that you will enjoy. It is necessary to keep exercising throughout your life journey. If you don’t use it, you lose it when it comes to muscle, balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance.
How Physical Therapy Can Help You Keep Moving
One highly recommended avenue to make sure you are on the best track possible is reaching out to a skilled, licensed professional, such as a Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist. They will analyze body mechanics and address any muscle imbalances or postural limitations that may creep in over time. As we age, this can be a potential hurdle for some. Injury prevention and addressing any current aches and pains can help down the road so that those things do not start as a snowflake and end up progressing into an avalanche at the bottom of the “Hill of Life”.
A therapist is trained to break down and assess the body’s movement patterns and can use that information to incorporate the findings, and how they relate to your specific choices of exercise and modes of activity. Exercise and activity are a daily and lifelong choice that can allow you to participate in life the way you decide to.
We will never reach a point in life after working out or being really active and be able to say, “I have made it and I won’t ever have to work out again”. Now, how we do it as we age may look a little different over time, but we just need to keep on going. Which brings us back to the tagline: “There is no finish line”.
