IT'S ALL ABOUT EXERCISE

For many people the idea of exercise is not appealing at all and for many others they can’t get enough of it.

Whatever our thoughts on this subject the research indicates that it is helpful in so many different ways.

Just reading through my most recent physio journal (Frontline 19/2/14) the word exercise was on every page with  headings such as:

‘Exercise is ‘core treatment’ for Osteoarthritis’  

• This article says people should exercise to help reduce pain and improve mobility according to the National institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 

Another article suggests: 

Small lifestyle changes can significantly affect the risk of developing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and stroke with the commonest risk factor that the physios assessed was lack of physical activity

‘Exercise offers hope even for failing hearts’

‘Get ready for workout@work day - Friday 6th June 2014’ 

This is an annual event that encourages colleagues to get active.  Last year’s feedback 'found that an overwhelming majority of participants in W@WD events said it had increased their knowledge of and understanding of the importance of exercise and more than half of those surveyed said they were ‘very or extremely likely’ to build more activity into their daily lives as a result.'

Now I appreciate that this is a physio journal and at the core of what we do is exercise so there’s naturally going to be a bias towards that!  However I think you’ll agree that whether you love or hate it exercise is a good thing.

So moving forwards, for those who don’t like exercise I’ve written my own journey through the world of exercise which I hope will encourage  you.     

Many years ago, before I trained as a physio, I had a desk job and spent long hours sitting using a computer working hard and to be honest by 6 o’clock I was exhausted.  The last thing I wanted to do was leap about, so I dabbled in a half-hearted sort of way with badminton, swimming, come cycling and the occasional class usually followed by supper out!

Once I decided physio was what I really wanted to do I headed to university and found myself surrounded by people who were leaping about a lot!  Perhaps it was their age and the fact that they hadn’t ever had a desk job...who knows.... but they had energy :-)

I decided to join them and went to more high energy classes and upped my cycling.  I felt better.  Exams came along and my exercise levels diminished.  

Once qualified I returned to the workplace but I didn’t find it easy to get exercise going again, negotiating with myself about the merits of just going home versus going to the gym most days of the week!  A friend finally persuaded me to have a go at spinning which I did and wasn’t able to climb the stairs for 3 days afterwards!  It wasn’t going to be easy!

Then I got a job in London as a physio in a gym where I noticed a poster which read ‘warning, entering this zone will serious change your shape’.  Yes!  My decision was made and nothing was going to stop me.  I sorted out my food intake, got an exercise programme from one of the personal trainers and bought some new trainers.  I was off.  I started running, 5 minutes initially progressing to 10k.  I learnt to row on the ergo then found a rowing club.  Encouraged by a friend I joined British Military Fitness and pushed myself.  I met friends who encouraged me and we did things together.  I lost weight and more weight and genuinely felt at my best.  Able to fit into clothes I would previously have only dreamt about and enter challenges that I would never have undertaken before and actually doing quite well!  This was undoubtedly an amazing time and one I am incredibly glad I had.  

Life events then reduced the hours I had available to exercise, my tolerance went down and the goals started to become harder to achieve.  However knowing how different I felt during that time I have made the decision that I was never going to go back to not doing exercise again and that I needed to invest this time in me to keep myself going for everything that needs doing.  Spinning, rather entertainingly, is now my cardio class of choice, together with walking and the occasional run and I also keep my core strong with weekly pilates.  

As we get older a change in tempo is inevitable and usually advisable, to help preserve our joints whilst still keeping ourselves both fit and flexible.  

For anyone out there who struggles with getting motivated, I understand and it isn’t easy, however knowing the other side of how a healthier life-style can impact your life in so so many ways I encourage you to go for a walk, get on a bike if you can, try pilates...  A couple of my patients have mentioned Nordic Walking recently with rave reviews.  May be try this?  The options are endless but as we can see just in a handful of articles, the benefits are worth it.

If you’d like some more information about exercises to help with osteoarthritis or something else, need the name of a good personal trainer near you to help you get srtarted , have a question or just some encouragement, do email, jemma@thephysioplace.com