Staying active is good for us, regardless of whether we have a chronic pain condition. Moving more helps to delay or prevent chronic illnesses and diseases associated with aging. Those adults who move more have a better quality of life and live independently longer. People who are physically active and at a healthy weight live about seven years longer than those who are not active and are obese.
From counting our steps, to enrolling in workplace fitness contests, we are trying to move more. The reality is that more than 80% of American do not meet recommended guidelines for weekly amounts of physical activity.
Our lives are busy and if it hurts to move, we are even less likely to carve out time for physical activity. Using moist heat therapy is one proactive step you can take to increase the likelihood that you will move more.
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. You can knock that out in just 30 minutes a day, five days a week. And every minute of moderate to vigorous activity counts toward your goal.
Tips to Help You Move More
One of the exciting pieces of information that scientists have discovered is that your body benefits from shorter “movement breaks” throughout the day. This means that you do not need to struggle through hour-long boot camp classes or head off on marathon runs to reap the benefits of increased activity. The take-home message is that any movement is better than no movement.
With more people working remotely, mid-day movement breaks may be more practical. Exercising midday not only helps your body- it also helps you be more productive at work. A study found employees who exercised for 30-60 minutes during their lunch break reported an average performance boost of 15 percent.
Movement can come in many different forms, so get creative. For example, dancing is a great family activity. Everyone, young and old, can move their bodies, benefit from mood-boosting music, and get some feel-good endorphins flowing. The Move Your Way campaign offers free tools, videos, and fact sheets to make it easier for adults and families to get a little more active.
Your family dog is also a great motivator to get you moving more. Stop ignoring that cute face and wagging tail, grab the leash, and get out for a walk. In 2018, an estimated 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the United States were overweight or obese. Did you adopt a pandemic puppy who needs lots of exercise? Taking your dog for a walk is a great way to get moving and with the ergonomic portable design of the Thermalon back wrap, you can even take the comforting heat therapy along with you on your walk!
The American Heart Association, through its Move More Together campaign offers online free classes, work-out suggestions, and instructions for how to start your own walking club. Finding a workout buddy or activity partner can be another trick to get you moving even if your body might feel a bit stiff or slow going. Scheduling times to meet a friend or coworker for a movement break makes it tougher for you to opt out of your commitment to moving more.
Live a Healthier Life
Together with regular moist heat therapy, you can start living a more active and healthier life. Using a microwaveable heat wrap like Thermalon is good medicine for stiff joints or muscles.
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