Lifting weights for hours. Doing long jogging sessions. Playing sports for hours at a time. These are what many people think of when they picture staying active.
Although these options have their place, there are other, simpler ways you can stay active every day. In fact, even small changes to your daily routine can lead to fitness improvements. Here are three simple ways that our physical therapists recommend staying active:
- Find little ways to walk farther every day
One way you can easily stay active is to walk more every day. Speed is usually the name of the game in your busy life. But does the time saved parking close to the store really add value?
Make a game of parking at the far end of the lot, so that you have to push a cart or carry a bag a greater distance. When you’re at work, take the stairs, unless you really are running late for that meeting! You can also take short walks on your lunch break.
- Find fitness benefits in your daily chores
Another simple way to stay active is doing a few chores around the house every day. Organizational experts know that a few minutes of chores a day add up to a cleaner, more organized space.
You might not have considered the fitness benefit your daily chores can offer. Bending over to clean up toys can help strengthen your hamstrings. Mopping the floor can give your arms and shoulders a workout. You may feel more like tackling such tasks if you remember that they also help you burn calories and build up your strength.
- Have an annual physical therapy checkup
Having an annual physical therapy checkup can also help you find ways to stay active. The most obvious way physical therapy checkups help is by revealing issues that can keep you from pursuing an active lifestyle. In addition, they can also lead to physical therapy plans designed to address your issues.
A physical therapist is also a great resource for giving you tips on tweaking your daily habits. They can go over what a normal day looks like for you and offer advice on how to make it a more active one. If chronic pain is an issue, your physical therapist can show you specific moves that can reduce your pain.
Find ways to stay active with help from SSOR
Ready to find additional ways to stay active? Our physical therapy specialists at SSOR are primed to help you boost your activity levels. We offer complimentary screenings that can pinpoint deficits and injuries that are reducing your ability to be active. Our therapists can also build you a personalized physical therapy plan designed to address your issues and increase your ability to move.
Additionally, you can get help from us without even leaving your home. We offer virtual care and at-home therapy services that are designed to be used from your home. Even better, we don’t require that you have a doctor’s referral before you begin therapy with us.
Don’t wait to start getting our help with your goal of being more active. Contact us today for more information about how we can help or to schedule an initial appointment.