Physical Fitness and Physical Activity

A person is said to be physically fit if their body systems are able to work together efficiently, allowing them to carry out daily tasks easily. Physical fitness can be achieved through physical activity, proper nutrition, physical fitness, and adequate rest.

Physical activity refers to any bodily movement caused by the activation of skeletal muscles. It encompasses every activity performed during any time of the day or night (even when a person is resting).

The Importance of Physical Fitness and Physical Activity

There are several health risks of an inactive lifestyle. Physically inactive people are at high risk of developing chronic diseases and, often, physical inactivity and obesity go hand in hand. Obesity can increase a person’s risk for coronary heart diseases, certain types of cancers, type-2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, and osteoarthritis.

A physically fit person has enough energy to enjoy sport and other leisure activities even after meeting personal and professional responsibilities. Physical fitness leads to better athletic performance and overall health. Physically fit people are less likely to develop chronic diseases than people living a sedentary lifestyle.

Regular physical activity can lower your risk for chronic diseases, helps maintain a healthy body weight, improves mood, boosts self-confidence, and promotes better sleep. Regular physical activity can improve quality of life and increase life expectancy by several years.

People who get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week have a 33 percent lower risk for mortality than people who do not get the recommended level of regular physical activity.

Physical activity promotes a positive attitude and outlook. It boosts energy levels and may also help boost production of feel-good hormones that promote positive feelings such as happiness, love, and pleasure.

How Much Physical Activity Do You Need?

Adults should get at least 150 minutes or 2-½ hour of moderate physical or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity every week. Moderate intensity activity is any activity that gets you moving fast enough to burn three to six times more energy than when you are sitting idle.

Vigorous-intensity exercises require a large amount of effort, resulting in a higher heart rate and rapid breathing. Some high-intensity physical activities include jogging, running, strength training, cycling, and racewalking.

How Long Does it Take to See Results From Physical Activity?

Many people report small changes in their heart rate within a couple of weeks after starting to work out. If your blood pressure is above the normal range, regular aerobic activity can decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Within three to six months, you may see a 25 to 100 percent improvement in muscle fitness. Many people start losing weight immediately after starting an active lifestyle, while others start seeing results after a few months.

How Physical Therapy can Improve Physical Fitness

There are several benefits of physical therapy. Frequent injuries can prevent a person from being active. Physical therapy in Burien can reduce pain and inflammation from injuries, thereby, fast tracking recovery.

It can also prevent injuries. If you are prone to injuries, your rehab specialist will teach you several warm-up exercises that you can do before engaging in physical activity to avoid injuries. If you are recovering from surgery, your rehab specialist will teach you ways to stay active the safe way.

Even people who lead active lifestyles can benefit from physical therapy. Your rehab specialist will help you improve you form and techniques. They will recommend exercises and techniques to increase stamina, endurance and improve flexibility. When you have ample amounts of energy, you are able to put enough effort into fitness.

Surgery can keep you out of action for several months. Major surgeries can affect patients’ ability to do physical activity. Many people lose motivation to be physically active after surgery. Though surgeries are much safer now than they were a few decades ago, there are still some risks to any surgical procedure.

Physical therapy can reduce the likelihood of surgery after an injury. Whether you sprained your ankle, have a dislocated joint or are grappling with tendonitis, bursitis or arthritis, your rehab specialist will use different physiotherapy techniques to help your body speed up its natural healing process.

Physical therapy can help improve balance and flexibility. Your rehab specialist will recommend stretching techniques to loosen tight and stiff muscles and may also use massage and fire and ice treatment to reduce muscle tension.

Want to give physical therapy in Burien a try? Look no further than Ascent Chiropractic. We are committed to helping people grappling with chronic pain lead active, healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a whole body approach to care. Our techniques are designed to balance the structure of the body. To learn more, call 206-241-3836.