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VISITING THE PUMPKIN PATCH
explore the stalks, HuffPost.com claims you’ll burn more than 200 calories per hour.
As HuffPost.com puts it, “Pumpkin picking is the new kettlebells!” Jack-o’-lantern hunting includes both walking and hefting weighty fruit, which means you’ll burn about 270 calories per hour tromping through the pumpkin patch.
RAKING LEAVES
The fitness app MyFitnessPal calls raking leaves exercise, and who are we to argue with the experts? According to its calculator, a 150-pound person who rakes for an hour will burn 272 calories, and that doesn’t count the calories you’ll burn while stuffing the leaves into bags and hauling them to the curb. If you want to turn your activity up a notch to reach your fitness goals, look for Halloween or Thanksgiving fun runs planned in your area. These 5–10K dashes often pop up in the fall when the risk of heatstroke drops, and the themes guarantee a good time. If you’re lucky enough to have a run near you, grab a team, dress up, and sprint (or jog, or walk) your heart out. Who knows — fall might be your fittest season yet.
LEAF PEEPING
It’s no secret that a brisk walk in the fresh air does a body good. If you can bring a friend along and make a point to search out beautiful fall leaves as you stroll, all the better! Increase your pace a bit to get your heart pumping and amp up the health benefits.
CORN MAZES
Wending your way through a corn maze or haunted house often means a lot of time on your feet, and there’s a good chance something spooky will spur you to a sprint every once in a while. If you choose to
National Physical Therapy Month CELEBRATING THE THERAPISTS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH October is National Physical Therapy Month, making it the perfect opportunity to celebrate the people dedicated to improving the health and well-being of others. Physical therapists are an important part of our society, and their efforts deserve recognition. Here are a few things you need to know about this month’s observance. WHEN DID NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH BEGIN? Originally started in June 1981, the annual celebration of physical therapy took place for one week instead of a whole month. In 1992, the holiday was extended, dubbed National Physical Therapy Month, and moved to October to prevent any conflict with the annual American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) conference held every June. Since then, this holiday has become an icon for APTA members, physical therapists, and many health providers throughout the U.S.
people to understand that they don’t have to rely on medication to go about their daily lives and that physical therapy can even help patients avoid surgery. In addition, National Physical Therapy Month offers a great opportunity to practice self-care to promote better physical and mental health. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CELEBRATE? The best way to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month is to appreciate your physical therapist, learn more about the benefits of physical therapy, and find new habits to become more active. Look into getting involved in a sport, yoga, tai chi, or any other activity that allows you to be physically active. If you know a physical therapist, take the time to talk to them about their profession and thank them for everything they do. Physical therapists dedicate their lives to ensure that people can return to living pain-free, and their commitment deserves mountains of praise.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? The top priority for the APTA each year is to educate people on how physical therapy can help improve health. Physical therapists want
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