You want to be exercising. Living in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, you have no excuse not to be. The past four decades have compiled numerous scientific reports examining the relationship between exercise and cardiovascular health. The prevailing view in these reports is “more active or fit individuals tend to develop less coronary heart disease (CHD) than their sedentary counterparts.”
Other benefits of regular exercise on the cardiovascular system:
- Increase in exercise tolerance
- Reduction in body weight
- Reduction in blood pressure
- Reduction in bad (LDL and total) cholesterol
- Increase in good (HDL) cholesterol
- Increase in insulin sensitivity
In addition, exercising in individuals with Osteoarthritis (OA) that are capable of exercise are encouraged to partake in low-impact aerobic exercises to manage OA conservatively. However, speaking with a doctor before beginning any exercise program is essential, especially if you are experiencing joint pain. Dr. Staubs at Suncoast Integrative Healthcare will examine the source of your pain and recommend the best exercise program for your body.
Below is a list of 4 Low Impact Exercises that you can do Everyday
- Walking
Walking is a human activity that is rarely viewed as exercise. However, there are many benefits to setting aside time to walk as a form of exercise. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles daily can lower their blood pressure by 11 points in 24 weeks. - Biking
Cycling is an excellent alternative to driving a car if you have a short commute. However, the resistance element of cycling means you won’t just lose fat during this activity; you will also build muscle. Having more muscle in your body will allow your body to burn fat, even when resting. - Swimming
Swimming is a great way to get a full body workout and increase your endurance. In addition, swimming is a good form of exercise if you are dealing with knee or other forms of joint pain. For individuals with asthma, the humidity of an indoor swimming pool can ease asthmatic symptoms. Holding your breath may also help to expand lung function. - Other Aquatic Exercise
Public gyms with swimming pools usually host various group aquatic exercise classes. These could include aqua yoga, aqua aerobics, and mobility training. The buoyancy supporting individuals’ body weight can allow for exercises they may not be able to perform on land. Some of these classes incorporate specialized foam weights to add another element of resistance training to the class.
Staying active throughout your life can help to preserve your health. Doing exercises that are easy to integrate is key to consistency. We hope this list gives you a few ideas on low-impact exercises that you can start adding to your daily schedule, contact our office today to get started.
* https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.cir.0000048890.59383.8d
* https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.01013.x