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Is the old quote “use it or lose it”
related to exercise, activity and keeping the body functioning,
optimally? Is a sedentary smedentary? Some reports say a sedentary
life is tantamount to accelerating one’s demise but is there
any validity to the theory? According to exercise physiologist
regardless of age, a lack of exercise can lead to losing muscle
or muscle atrophy.
For
instance, an adolescent girl aged 17 in good physical health
may lose muscles if the majority of time is spent in front of
a computer screen or watching television. Muscle atrophy may
trigger the muscles in the spine and abdomen to waste away.
The result of inactivity leads to losing muscles.
It
is the primary reason medical professionals prescribe walking
and getting out of bed for patients who are hospitalized. When
the body is inactive, it affects numerous processes of the body;
including bowel movements and digestion. Nevertheless, muscle
atrophy from inactivity can be turned around via exercise.
On
the other side of the inactive equation, there are ways to put
a little bounce into a sedentary life. For starters, it begins
with conferring with a medical practitioner. Next, devise a
fitness training program customized to ones physical and medical
needs.
For
instance, an arthritic patient may consider strength or resistance
training to stimulate circulation in the muscles. Moreover,
stretching is good for maintaining movement in the joints. In
patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, weight lifting may offer
the health advantages of building bone density or a means of
strengthening the bones. Another alternative for individuals
who are susceptible to knee injuries or joint pain from running
on a treadmill is swimming or aquatic aerobics. |
