James River: How Smartphones Help Form Fitness Habits

James River Physical Therapy Newsletter

HOW SMARTPHONES, NOT WEARABLE TRACKERS, MAY HELP YOU FORM FITNESS HABITS THAT STICK THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLETTER

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A new study suggests that people who use their phones—rather than a wearable device—to track daily movement are more likely to continue tracking for a longer period of time. (continued inside)

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INSIDE : • How Smartphones, Not Wearable Trackers...

• Exercise Of The Month • Track Me On STRAVA!

• 9 Ways To Strengthen Your Body Against Viruses

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THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLETTER

HOW SMARTPHONES, NOT WEARABLE TRACKERS, MAY HELP YOU FORM FITNESS HABITS THAT STICK

Article Courtesy of

INSIDE : • 9 Ways To Strengthen Your Body Against Viruses • Track Me On STRAVA!

• Exercise Of The Month • Coronavirus Update

(continued from outside) In the age of technology, there’s a good chance that you—and most people you know—keep track of runs, other workouts, and daily steps using one device or another. But you don’t have to buy a high-end watch or other wearable to successfully keep an eye on your progress. It turns out that the accessory that might keep you the most accountable is the one likely already attached to you 24/7: Your smartphone. New research, published in JAMA Network Open, found that people using their smartphones to track their activity were more likely to continue doing so for a longer period of time than people using wearable devices. The study followed 500 participants—250 tracking their activity using smartphones and 250 using wearable devices—who had been admitted to two different Philadelphia hospitals over a period of two years; each person was monitored for six months after their initial discharge. Those who tracked their activity using their smartphones were 32 percent more

likely to send in their daily step counts in the six months after being discharged from the hospital than those who used a wearable fitness tracker. “We think that most people already carry their smartphones with them and this habit may make it easier to use them to track their activity,” Mitesh S. Patel, M.D., lead study author and director of the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, told Runner’s World. If you’re unfamiliar with wearable fitness trackers, you might not want to go out of your way to research and buy one. But nearly 80 percent of adults in the U.S. already own smartphones, Patel adds, so they’re a good tool to track activity levels for extended periods of time. And once you’ve made a smartphone a part of your life, chances are, you’ll continue to upgrade it.

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Article: www.runnersworld.com/news/a30910770/fitness-tracker-smartphone-vs-wearable-device-study/

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CURL UP Lie on back with one leg straight. The other leg is bent with the foot flat on the ground. Position your hands underneath your lower back. Tuck your chin and lift your shoulder blades off the ground slightly. Return to the start position in a controlled manner. Strengthens Core www.simpleset.net Try this movement if you are experiencing core pain. EXERCISE OF THE MONTH

How Smar tphones, Not Wearable Trackers, May Help You Form Fitness Habits That Stick

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What James River PT Is Doing In Response To The Coronavirus

(continued) That’s not to say a wearable tracker might not be a good choice sometime down the road, but, according to Patel, “[people] could start with using their smartphones and then decide if other information from wearables—such as sleep or heart rate—are needed.” A 2015 study in JAMA found that both types of devices were equally as accurate in counting steps. (It’s worth noting, though, that wearables track metrics such as sleep and heart rate, and smartphones typically don’t, according to Patel, who was also involved in this research.) [Smash your goals with a Runner’s World Training Plan, designed for any speed and any distance.] The bottom line? If you don’t want to buy a wearable fitness tracker just yet, your smartphone is an extremely viable and accurate option for holding you accountable to your running and fitness goals.

Providing One-On-One Care! If you or someone you know requires physical therapy during this crisis, remember there’s always fewer than five people inside the JRPT clinic. Recently there’s only been two, the patient and me! I am using virtual PT for some patients but plan to keep the clinic open as long as possible.

Article: www.runnersworld.com/news/a30910770/fitness-tracker-smartphone-vs- wearable-device-study/

CALL US TODAY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY PAIN

TRACK ME ON STRAVA! Download the STRAVA app on your smartphone and keep up with my daily exercise!

9 WAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BODY AGAINST VIRUSES LIKE COVID-19 The best way to keep your body healthy during this time is to stay moving and reduce inflammation. Being sedentary and making poor diet choices has the potential to hurt your immune system and make you a target for sickness and disease.

9 ways to strengthen your body against viruses like COVID-19:

1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds, using soap and water.

2. Don’t touch your face!

3. Go outside and go for a walk, jog, or bike.

4. Eat a Mediterranean or other mostly plant-based diet.

5. Don’t smoke.

6. Strive for more quality (deep) sleep.

7. Drink plenty of water.

8. Stand up and stretch!

9. Keep doing your home exercise program.

In order to be healthy, there needs to be a large emphasis on movement. When your body is flexible, strong, well-balanced, and fueled by a nutritious diet, it is able to fight infection and reduce the impact of viruses. We are dedicated to helping you live the best life you can. During this time, if you cannot make it to your physical therapy appointments, continue your exercises at home. We care for you and remember you are part of our physical therapy family.

Search Dan List on Strava to keep up with my exercise and share yours too! I run, bike, walk, or hike outside EVERYDAY and post ALL of my exercise on Strava.

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