Add Some Variety To Your Exercise Routine

Everybody knows that you should exercise regularly as you get older. Regular exercise has been proven to extend both the quality of our lives as we age, and the number of years we are alive. Exercise improves our physical and mental health, there's no doubt about that. However, it's not enough to just choose one type of exercise -- like running or swimming, for example -- and just keep to that same routine year after year. We all know that it's good to change our daily routines just to keep fresh, and now a Doylestown Chiropractor has evidence to prove that it's important for our physical health.

The Journal of General Internal Medicine recently reported on a 2016 study of 3,300 seniors between 1993 and 2001 who were tracked for 17 years, and the results suggested that the seniors who did multiple types of physical exercise lived longer. A warrington chiropractor says studies like that are the reason why the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week for seniors, complemented by twice a week sessions of muscle building and flexibility.

 

Variety is the spice of life, as the saying goes, and it’s also a way to maintain your health. It’s wonderful if you like to get out and ride your bike five times a week, but it’s even better if you pair that with seeing a jamison chiropractor and a good gym workout every few days. The way to keep yourself motivated and healthy is to add a little variety to your exercise program!

HOW TO RELIEVE NECK PAIN

Neck pain is on the rise in recent years, and it's easy to see why. If you think of how we interact with our computers and cell phones, you'll realize that these devices do not promote good posture. Most of the time when we use digital devices we're looking down at them, which puts added stress on our neck muscles. Add up all the time you spend on these devices during the day, and you'll realize why your neck hurts. Indeed, experts say that every inch you lean forward with your neck is an extra ten pounds of torque.

To relieve all the pressure on your neck, it helps to do some simple exercises prescribed by a chiropractor in Doylestown, like side-bending and head circles that will loosen things up in your neck area. Here are two particularly good exercises for your neck.

Wall Crunch. Stand close enough to a wall that your butt is touching the surface. Slowly engage your core (midsection) muscles, and pull your head back to the wall, without arching your back or getting out of alignment. Move your head back to the starting position, then repeat the exercise a dozen times.

Hanging Head. Standing straight, slowly drop your chin to your chest, till you can feel a stretch in your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Hold for at least 20 seconds, then raise you head back to the starting position. Repeat several times.

Take the opportunity during your day to gently bend and twist your neck in various directions. Don’t power through if you feel any pain, make sure you call the best local chiropractor; these neck turns should be relaxing movements that will help to relieve the stress on your neck from too much bending forward.

 

Take care of your neck — it’s under a lot of stress these days!