HEALTH & FITNESS The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
The Importance of Staying Active During Winter Months STAY FIT ALL YEAR Just because it is winter, it doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors! It is easy to want to stay in, nestled up in blankets, while it’s snowy and cold. However, remaining active in the winter months is just as important as remaining active during any other season! According to a study titled “Exercise in the cold,” found in the Journal of Sports Sciences, temperatures hovering around 50 degrees Fahrenheit are optimal for high or moderate intensity workouts. Conversely, low intensity workouts are better performed indoors during colder months, as sufficient metabolic heat may not be generated well enough to offset the cooler environment.
The winter presents several fun activities that can double as workouts. Even something as small as taking a walk around the neighborhood to look at holiday lights or building a snowman with your kids can give you the amount of daily exercise you need. At Advanced Physical Therapy, we can design specialized treatment plans for anyone who may need a little extra push in staying active during the winter. Contact us today to learn more!
Exercise also helps loosens muscles that may become stiff in the winter months, making it easier to maneuver around in your orthotic or prosthetic device. Additional benefits to winter exercising include: • Sunlight intake. Vitamin D is important! Many people lack Vitamin D in the winter, due to a scarcity of desire to venture out in the cold. However, simply stepping outside can have positive effects. Sunlight can act as a natural mood booster, which may even increase motivation to exercise. • Absence of heat/humidity. Too much heat or humidity can sometimes feel suffocating. During colder months, this isn’t an issue. In fact, exercising in the cold can feel invigorating, as the crisp air can increase your energy. You run out of breath easier when it is hot and humid, so when that is taken away, you may be able to work out for longer periods of time. • Immune system boost. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even just a few minutes of outdoor exposure during the winter can help prevent against both bacterial and viral infections.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISING DURING THE WINTER?
It is an undeniable fact that daily exercise is an important part of staying healthy and promoting wellness. It seems easier to get up and exercise when it is warm out, but there is actually evidence to support the benefits of working out in the cold. Depending on the type of workout, exercising in colder weather can actually have a more positive effect on the body than exercising in the heat.
Look inside to learn more about our health and fitness programs, and return to a pain-free, active lifestyle!
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