Guest article by Dr. Douglass Toth
Choosing the right exercise routine for your body at your age to meet your specific fitness goals is important if you want to get results. Considering how that form of exercise impacts your joints so you can sustain your desired intensity is part of that formula.
CHOOSE EXERCISES WITH LOW IMPACT ON YOUR BODY
Going easy doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t breaking a sweat. We all have exercises that we like and prefer but some forms of exercise are hard on the body. Running is hard on our knees, hips and lower back. Power lifting is hard on our lower back and knees. Sports like football, rugby, hockey and soccer are high impact and leave you more prone to injury. Try low impact exercise like swimming, yoga, the stair master, the elliptical, the row machine or cycling. These can be extremely challenging forms of exercise that satisfy our needs for a good workout without excessive wear and tear on our body.
YOUR BODY’S NATURAL MECHANISMS FOR SHOCK ABSORPTION ARE A MAJOR PART OF HOW YOUR BODY PREVENTS INJURY.
Now let’s identify the anatomy of our shock absorbing structures. The principle of shock absorption is present in four main locations in our body starting with the arch of our foot, then the rocking motion (nutation) of our pelvis, the arch (lordosis) in our low back, the rounding (kyphosis) in our upper back and lastly the curve (lordosis) in our neck. These structures have a lattice of ligaments and muscles that capture the normal force traveling upwards as the foot meets the ground. Without these structures we would be brittle and break down easily with normal compressive activities of daily living.
TAKE PREVENTATIVE ACTION
Giving your body the support it needs to reduce stress on its joints and structure is key for sustainable exercise routines. Choose good footwear and use orthotics to support the arches in your feet. Stretch on a regular basis, in fact like brushing our teeth, making stretching a daily routine keeps daily tension from accumulating. Also taking hot tubs to relax muscles and seeing a massage therapist or chiropractor to address problem areas can make a world of difference.
Success in exercise demands thoughtful strategies that work, and every setback demands reassessing your approach. Stay focused on your goals and claim your health today!
Dr Douglass Toth practices chiropractic in Santa Rosa, Ca.
He can be contacted at:
1214 College Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 • 707-526-1390 • www.drtoth.com