Today seems to be a good day to talk about improving circulation. Good circulation is important for oxygen and other nutrients to be able to get to all our vital organs. We need oxygen and nutrients to get to our brain, heart, muscles, eyes, and so much more than we think about day to day. We tend to take our bodies for granted when everything is working right. As soon as one part is not working efficiently or correctly, we usually notice it! However, sometimes things change so slowly that our bodies try to adapt until the problem is too obvious to ignore.
Some people love to walk. Some people love to run. Others cringe at the idea of going outside and trying to walk even a short distance. I have met people who do not have the energy to simply walk around the house. Sometimes just moving in a chair is all that they can tolerate. The important key to remember is that no matter where you start, as long as you are moving you are improving circulation.
Starting any new physical activity can be challenging. It often takes your body a few weeks to adjust to the new demand you are asking of it. Sometimes you need help figuring out how to avoid injury while increasing your activity tolerance. Others do not even know how to begin or think they need to be really aggressive in order to get any benefit. Often I have met individuals who say they do not like exercise because they have been too aggressive with their approach or have not found an activity they can tolerate. The key is to start out slowly and build yourself up as tolerated. It is also important to figure out an activity that you like, or at least do not mind, because it is not the same for everyone.
If you need help figuring out what would be safe for you while reducing your risks of injuries, then contacting a physical therapist is a good place to start! We are trained to help you avoid injuries or recover from them. Finding a physical therapist that listens to you and works with you to achieve your goals is very important. You get one body and you need to take care of it!
The information appearing in this blog and all blogs on this website are for informational purposes and are not to be used to diagnose or treat. If you are having an emergency, you should call 911. Each individual must be assessed in person prior to starting any activity or program in order to provide the necessary safety.
