HD Physical Therapy is supporting the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition in honor of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. During the month of May, we challenge all adults to get 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
Did you know that regular physical activity increases your chances of living a longer, healthier life? It also reduces your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and some types of cancer. Yet in Massachusetts, 20.9% of adults report that during the past month, they had not participated in any physical activity.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults:
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· Aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. Moderate activity includes things like walking fast, dancing, swimming, and raking leaves.
· Do muscle-strengthening activities – like lifting weights and using exercises bands – at least 2 days a week.
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There are just too many benefits to an active lifestyle to ignore. Our obesity epidemic and the host of chronic diseases that can be combated by making activity a part of our lives are two big ones. Generally speaking, the main health benefits of exercise include: stress reduction/relaxation, improvement in energy levels and moods, maintenance of strong bones and joints, and prevention of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.
Therefore, physical activity is for everyone. Throughout the month and beyond, HD Physical Therapy is encouraging children and their families to get up, get out and be active. Whether it’s running around on the blacktop before school, or walking around the neighborhood with your family after dinner, set aside time for some fun physical activity each day. Sign up for a fun run, try that new yoga class you’ve been eyeing, take your bike out on one of our local trails, or go for a leisurely stroll with friends or colleagues at lunchtime. May is usually a beautiful time of year in our area…get outside and take advantage of the weather!
