With many individuals being quarantined, movement has been put to the side. The most movement some individuals are getting is going from their “work” desk to the bathroom, or the couch to the refrigerator.

It’s time to change! Movement is so important to life. Movement can help ease aches and pains, helps you with not being stiff, helps you burn off those extra calories you’re consuming, boosts your mood and helps your body pump blood through your body. (Notice how when you sit still you always get cooler?)

Do you know how much it actually takes to burn off calories? When you’re sitting around “Nexflix and Chillin”, think twice about grabbing that extra snack. An unwanted side effect of inactivity is weight gain.

Movement for Pain

Back in the old days, they use to prescribe laying in bed for low back pain. New research shows that laying in bed actually does more harm than good when it comes to pain. Yes, you should rest when you are hurting and don’t do as much, but only laying around in bed will lengthen the time you are down.

When you are up and moving around you are actually lubricating your joints and helping bring new blood flow to tissues. There are about 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body. Red blood cells bring oxygen and nutrients to your cells and joints. Does the phrase “Walk it off” make more sense now?

Exercise also triggers a biological process called autophagy, where damaged cells in the joint are broken down and removed. Scientists aren’t entirely clear about how genes play a role in joint repair, but research shows that joint movement activates genes associated with rebuilding cartilage.

Aerobic means “with oxygen”. So when you run, bike, walk, swim, and do similar exercises, you take in more oxygen and move it to your muscles. This gets your blood pumping, makes your heart stronger, and lowers your blood pressure.

Movement for Happiness

When you move or exercise you actually release endorphins. Both physical exercise and meditative movement are activities that you can do by yourself. On their own, they can improve the way you feel. But a recent study found that when you try to move in synchrony with someone else, it also improves your self-esteem.

People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives them an enormous sense of well-being. They feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives. And it’s also powerful medicine for many common mental health challenges.

Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication. As one example, a recent study done by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26%.

Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes, 5 to 7 days a week. Break it up into small chunks if needed.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care finds the root cause and works on correcting the problem. (Whether it be pain, illness, stress, not sleeping, ect.) Chiropractic adjustments also help boost the immune system by calming down the CNS. When your nervous system is functioning as well as it can, you have less sickness, pain, and other health problems.

I always urge my patients to commit to a wellness care (meaning a monthly or bi-weekly adjustment) program. This keeps your body’s ability to stay healthy and in top shape. It also helps you bounce back from an injury quicker, because you have a healthier “spine” and are able to talk about any minor aches or pains before they become serious problems.

You would be amazed at how much chiropractic care can change your life and attitude. If you have any questions on whether chiropractic can help, give us or a chiropractor near you a call!

~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, INC.
El Reno, OK 73036