Ashburn and Herndon Chiropractic Tip: Go out for a walk.
Every step counts! Walks are healthy. Walking is effective, even in small spurts.
It is a growing trend in Ashburn and Herndon and everywhere else. Walking is free and simple. It’s a physical activity that most everyone can do. Sadly only about 48% of adults get enough aerobic (activity that makes the heart pumping harder and blood vessels healthier) physical activity (1), so Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn recommends walking to all of our Ashburn and Herndon 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 is so simple! That can be broken down into 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 will do it. 145 million adults walk as part of their physical activity plan. Others like some in Ashburn and Herndon walk for fun or transportation or exercise. 6 out of 10 walk for their aerobic physical activity. Others take ballroom dancing or gardening. (1) Brisk walking, running, jogging, swimming or biking are potential endeavors when walking becomes a bit too comfortable, 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 not being as mobile as they like (ie, their ability to walk without support). They were split into two groups: walking (20-minutes-a-day walk) or education (reading material about healthy aging). The walking group experienced 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? Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is here to inspire you! A new report about outcomes of a 6-month program of walking shared what low back pain participants reported as motivators that got them to begin the walking program (back pain improvement and better overall healthy lifestyle), to adhere to the program (walking was seen as a safe exercise as opposed to high-impact exercise that they wanted out of fear of hurting themselves), and to complete the program (accountability, pleasure of the exercise and health benefits). (4) A recently designed study expects to define just how effective a walking and education program might be able to prevent low back pain recurrence as well as for cost. They’re calling it WalkBack. (5) Such a fitting name! Effectiveness and cost-savings might also be motivators to stay with a walking program.
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
So if you are looking 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 Ashburn and Herndon 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 allowed a patient to walk again without a cane.
Schedule an appointment with Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn today for personalized advice about integrating walking into your chiropractic care plan.
