Physical Therapy Can Help You Get Active After The Holidays
Do you find keeping up your exercise routine during the holiday season challenging? Are you dealing with new aches and pains or putting off taking care of an old injury due to the holidays approaching? At NorthStar Physical Therapy, our physical therapists can help you resolve your injuries, old and new, and we can also help you get active after the holidays!
The holiday season is about spending time with our families and keeping traditions alive. For many of us, going to parties or traveling to see family leads to a considerable loss of progress with working out and staying fit. For others, the rich foods and abundance of sweets lead to more aches, pains, and concerns about our overall health and well-being.
Your body, quite simply, thrives when you eat healthy, nutritious foods and stay active by moving and exercising. Unfortunately, overindulging, sitting around, and sleeping have become how we participate in the holidays. This behavior often leads to some chronic pain and soreness when you finally get back to your regular exercise routine and active lifestyle.
Understanding the safest ways to get back into your exercise routine and avoid injuries is where our physical therapists at NorthStar Physical Therapy thrive. We help you resolve any old problem and help you get back into your regular exercise routine after the holidays!
Call today to request an appointment with our specialists!
Tips for a safe return to exercise after the holidays
No matter the reason for getting out of your exercise routine, our physical therapists can help guide you back safely and effectively. Our team uses research-backed methods and provides proven solutions, not some new fad that wastes your valuable time.
Whenever you start or get back to an exercise routine, there are some important considerations everyone should follow.
Always use proper form: Understanding how to perform an exercise properly can be the difference between results and injury. No matter what type of physical exercise you are trying to get back into, maintaining your form is crucial.
Our physical therapists at NorthStar Physical Therapy will conduct a movement analysis to learn how your body moves and to help ensure you can safely perform exercises while maintaining good posture and proper body positioning.
We will identify joint restrictions, weaknesses, and/or compensations from your time off and deconditioning. We will work to ensure you improve your technique when needed and address any issues you may have while exercising.
Take it easy when you first get back to exercise: If you haven’t been participating in a vigorous exercise program for weeks, it is essential to begin with, baby steps so that you are not adding extra stress or strain to your joints and muscles.
Inactivity or doing too much too soon leads to physical limitations and an increased risk of injury. Pushing your body past its limits leaves you prone to poor technique and injuries.
Fortunately, at NorthStar Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are skilled at recognizing your body’s limits and can create an exercise plan for you to safely get back to exercising again!
Focus on overall health instead of what you see on the scale: The holiday season can cause us to lose muscle mass and gain extra weight. With help from a physical therapist, you can set up an exercise regimen that will help you shed some pounds and maintain a healthy weight.
Making changes to your health means taking a whole-body approach, including proper nutrition, stress management/reduction, good recovery techniques, and proper sleep.
Your physical therapist will also customize an exercise plan for your specific needs so you can safely return to a routine after the holidays that help improve your health and overall well-being.
Set your goals/intentions and plan your day around them: Research has shown that small changes to a person’s routine can make a big difference to overall health. Our physical therapists may recommend changes to your routine that include the following:
- Choose the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Park farther away from your destination and walk the extra distance.
- Get off the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way to your destination.
- Take the dog on walks around the park or your neighborhood every day.
To make the adjustments manageable, our therapists will design modifications to your daily routine that meet your needs and help you achieve your personal goals!
Call to request an appointment
If you’re looking for assistance getting back in shape after the holidays, your search ends here. NorthStar Physical Therapy is here to help you achieve your wellness and fitness goals.
Contact us today to discover how we can help you safely strengthen your muscles and get your energy back!
Sources:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352900816300127
- https://www.physio-pedia.com/Injury_Prevention_and_Body_Mechanics
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568997218302106
- https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/crr/2019/00000015/00000003/art00005
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6796229/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5942145/