Movement Is Medicine!
Great news! Over the last decade there has been endless scientific research produced that goes in depth to show the many benefits of being active and developing strength in overcoming injuries and illness. Let’s dive into a few components of both of those categories.
Starting with injuries: It is important to not be afraid to continue strength and exercise regimes with an injury both new and old. That being said, there are proper ways to do every movement that are both specific and non-specific to body types. It is important to see your healthcare professional to get expert advice on which movements will provide the best care for your body.
Active care means doing something that involves you and not someone doing it for you. Some good examples of how movement can be used as medicine are: mobility exercises, strength exercises, endurance exercises, balance and even things that we all love to do like running, Tai Chi, Yoga, cross country skiing and much more. Incorporating these into our recovery phases of care allow the body to heal much faster.
We all know that exercising or going for a run is good for the heart, but, why is that and what is happening? Bringing your heart rate and breath rate up allows more oxygen to enter the blood stream. If we think of oxygen as a nutrient, then blood that is very nutrient-dense will allow better recovery from injuries as well as strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
On a normal breath of air, we tend to be short and shallow. Air does not enter the base of our lungs which is a very common site for disease. However, when we exercise or have active movement in our day, this forces us to increase our breath and allow the air to fill the lungs and in turn provide that rich nutrient-dense blood to enter the muscles and help strengthen them. Being active can help with many things beyond just strength. It can help by balancing hormones, improving digestion, clearing mental fogs, as well as helping with weight management. By engaging in movement and exercise we stimulate hormones such as endorphins, insulin, melatonin, oxytocin and many others. These all have different benefits and functions. Endorphins will help with decreasing stress, depression, and will help boost self-esteem. Insulin regulation will be improved and, as a result, a decrease in diseases in certain organs (like the pancreas) can occur, as well as proper utilization of extra sugars in the body, aiding in weight management.
Melatonin is released through exercise and most potently in the morning. It has the function of aiding proper sleep and helping to reduce any bad free radicals that enter the body in our daily life. Melatonin contains anti-oxidant properties which in turn help keep our organs free of disease.
As you can see, being active has many benefits, not just in muscle development, but internally with our organs.
Creating a mentality of rest and inactivity can turn into a hard habit to shake. So, if you have old injuries, seasonal discomforts, or simply lack motivation, don’t wait. Take that extra step and get moving through those complaints. We at the Bragg Creek Chiropractic Clinic love to see our patients out on the trails being active. Come in and let’s work together to get you moving again!
By Ryan Derochie
Bragg Creek Chiropractic Clinic
