Why Exercise is Important (For a Reason You Wouldn’t Expect!)

No one will dispute how important exercise and staying active are. The health benefits of regular exercise are astonishing and impossible to ignore. In my work with senior citizens, though, I’ve noticed one important thing that can completely change how you view exercise and will make you want to get that heart pumping stat!

Get Moving, Recover Faster

Through my experience working with senior citizens, I’ve noticed that the more active seniors are (whether through exercise or golf or dance), the more likely they are to rebound from injuries faster. Here’s the thing: the body wants to be active, even in old age. The average person sits for up to eight hours a day (or more!)–which puts your health at significant risk. By staying active, even for just 20 seconds at a time, you’ll increase your circulation, warm up your muscles and awaken your brain, which all contribute to recovering faster from injury. Staying active while in good health, especially as you age, is an excellent preventative measure to keep our bodies from staying permanently damaged.

How Does It Work?

Just as with massage, exercise increases circulation and keeps your muscles relaxed and flexible, assisting significantly with injury recovery. Consistent activity encourages the body to increase blood-flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues, resulting in better removal of waste products and improved cell nutrition. This can help the injured area heal faster and, as injured areas recover to full strength, can also aid in pain management. This is why even athletes are encouraged to receive massage therapy treatments after intense activity, too! One of the main benefits of massage therapy is increased blood circulation, which can help repair those over-active muscles. The two go hand-in-hand with keeping your body in tip-top shape.

Try It Yourself

Try this: stop reading, stand up and do 20 jumping jacks. Now how do you feel? Rejuvenated, right? Just 20 quick seconds of exercise gets the blood (and endorphins!) flowing to your brain and can improve your mood significantly. Now imagine how that blood flow is affecting your muscles! Little things like taking a break from work to walk around for a few minutes or parking farther away at the grocery store can all add up, keeping you fit and healthy. By creating that lifestyle now and maintaining it as you get older will keep you from not “bouncing back” after a fall or surgery. So get moving, friends! Even if you move slowly, your body can only get stronger and more resilient. The long-term benefits will astound you.