Motion Is Lotion: 7 Reasons To Stay Active!

Canadian Chiropractic Association

It’s never a bad time to keep the simple things in mind!

 

Over the past 20 years, exercise has become an important aspect of health care. It’s no surprise that it’s important to stay active. From the perspective of your spine, muscle, and nervous system experts, here are a few important reasons for you to stay active:

 

1) It helps relieve low back pain

Exercise has been shown to have a positive long-term effect on low back pain.¹ Core strengthening exercises, especially, have been shown to be very effective in improving the function of your back.

 

2) It improves bone health

Current evidence has shown that exercise can increase bone density and decrease the risk of falls and fractures in the elderly.¹ Studies have also shown that exercise is comparable to medication in improving the day to day functioning of people with osteoarthritis.

 

3) It helps prevent obesity

Obesity is often connected to the development of many life-threatening illnesses (e.g., diabetes or high blood pressure). There is strong evidence showing that exercise is important for preventing weight gain as well as keeping your body weight stable after you’ve shed some pounds.¹

 

4) It helps improve your mental health

Physical exercise has been shown to have a positive effect in the long-term management of psychological symptoms, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and chronic stress!¹

 

5) It helps manage diabetes

Diabetes is a common illness affecting approximately 2.5 million Canadians, with over 200,000 cases being diagnosed every year.² Researchers around the globe have all found that exercise is one of the pillars of managing diabetes along with diet.¹

 

6) It prevents your risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease

Cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of death in Canada.¹ There is more and more evidence showing that exercise can help protect you from developing cancer in the colon, breast, uterus, and prostate.¹ Studies have also shown that exercise lessens your risk of developing heart disease because it helps reduce the amount of fats and cholesterol in the body (both play a role in damaging your arteries).¹

 

7) It can help improve brain health

Studies have shown that individuals who exercise regularly have a decreased risk of developing dementia. Exercise has also been shown to improve balance and function in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

 

Improve your overall health by making exercise a part of your daily routine. If you want to learn more about managing your health with exercise, contact your local chiropractor.

 

Pain changes everything. Chiropractic care changes pain.

References

1. Pedersen BK, Saltin B. Exercise as medicine: evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015;25(S3): 1-72.

2. Public Health Agency of Canada. Diabetes in Canada: Facts and figures from a public health perspective. Date modified: December 15, 2011. Accessed September 22, 2017.