Every step counts! Walks are healthy. Walking is effective,
even in small spurts.
It’s a growing trend in
Manchester and everywhere else. Walking is free and simple. Walking is a physical activity that
most anyone can do. Sadly only about 48% of
adults get enough aerobic (activity that gets the heart pumping
harder and blood vessels healthier) physical activity (1), so Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
recommends walking to all of our Manchester chiropractic patients particularly
as they get over a back pain episode.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES
Physical Activity Guidelines propose only
2 and a half hours a week. (2)
That’s manageable! That can be accomplished in smaller chunks like five 30-minute walks or longer
walks with friends instead of coffee chats or dinners out. A walk
while waiting to pick up kids at activities can work. 145
million adults walk as part of their physical activity plan. Others like some
in Manchester walk for fun or transportation or exercise. 6 in
10 walk for their aerobic physical activity. Others enjoy ballroom
dancing or gardening. (1) Brisk walking, running, jogging, swimming or biking
are potential activities when walking becomes a bit too routine,
but walking itself works|is]19] just as well!
WALKERS KEEP WALKING
The Journal of the American Medical Association published
information about 1635 inactive adults from 70 to 89 years who were at risk of losing their mobility (ie, their ability to
walk without assistance). They were separated into 2
groups: walking (20-minutes-a-day walk) or education (reading material about
healthy aging). The walking group had an 18% lower risk of
major mobility disability at 2.6 years. The walkers could walk without assistance
up to a quarter mile. (3) This is great news!
A NEW WALKING PROGRAM: Motivators & Effects
What inspires you to exercise?
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries is here to inspire you! A new report about outcomes
of a 6-month program of walking described what low back
pain participants reported as motivators that prompted
them to start the walking program (back pain improvement
and better overall healthy lifestyle), to adhere to the program
(walking was perceived as a safe exercise as opposed to high-impact
exercise that they wanted out of fear of hurting
themselves), and to finish the program (accountability, enjoyment
of the exercise and health benefits). (4) A newly planned
study anticipates defining just how effective a walking
and education program {{might be able to prevent low back pain recurrence as well as for cost. They are
calling it WalkBack. (5) Such a suitable name!
Effectiveness and cost-savings might also be motivators to stay
with a walking program.
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
So if you are wanting to add some physical
activity to your life or you are attempting to re-gain your
physically active life after an injury, illness or episode of back
pain, just walk (after you check with your Manchester chiropractor
first!). It will do you good! Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Amanda Harris on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes
treatment with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management that permitted
a patient to walk again without a cane.
Contact
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries to set up your next appointment for individualized
advice about integrating walking into your chiropractic
care plan.