Motion is Lotion: Boost Your Home Exercise Routine
With the safer at home order, many people find their change in routine involves sitting more at home. A decrease in activity can lead to an increase in joint stiffness. Long periods of sitting in sustained positions has been shown to increase aches and pains.
The solution is simple: MOTION IS LOTION. Gentle movement is a proven effective treatment for arthritis and joint pain, so boost your home exercise.
The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week. That’s only 21.5 minutes per day. Here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Start with walking
While it seems like an easy exercise, walking still has powerful health benefits. Two short, 10-minute walks per day can help fulfill your daily exercise requirements. A quick walk or two around the neighborhood – while enjoying the spring weather – might be just the ticket to ease joint pain.
2. Do short exercise routines
The amount of information that bombards us on the types of available workouts can be overwhelming. But exercise doesn’t have to be intimidating. Try these simple exercises, which can be broken up throughout the day.
3. Use small blocks of time
We have more time than we realize. When you add up all of those little blocks of time during each day when we’re waiting, it’s easy to fit in some quick exercise. So the next time you start to look down at your phone during a commercial break or movie credits, get up and move instead.
4. focus on ergonomics
If you’re working from home, also help minimize the strain on your body by making sure your home workstation is set up properly.
If pain or stiffness is keeping you from doing what you enjoy and exercise isn’t helping, consider calling to schedule an examination with one of our physical therapists. We offer an in-depth, personalized approach designed around your specific pain and mobility needs.
