We all know that being sedentary is not a good thing, but when it comes to getting movement daily, many adults are missing the mark.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 25 percent of American adults sit for more than eight hours a day. And it gets worse as we age, with about 31 million adults 50 and older getting no physical activity daily other than activities of daily living.

Being sedentary can be a killer, too: It can contribute to heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and Type II diabetes, to name only a few.

If you are ready to stop being sedentary and get daily movement, here are some other reasons to get up and move.

Cognitive gains

Movement can promote better memory, clearer thinking, and improved concentration. It has also been shown to help create new brain cells and deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the brain. This is important as we age as it can prevent cognitive decline.

More energy

Feeling tired and sluggish? You might think that moving MORE will make you even MORE tired, but it’s actually just the opposite. Being more active and moving more can improve your cardiovascular health and endurance, which can give you more energy in the long run. It can also improve your sleep, which is where your body repairs itself on all levels.

Mood and mental health

Physical activity has been proven time and again to improve mood and mental health. Simply walking in nature has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety, so there’s no need to run out and get a gym membership or buy expensive gym equipment, just walk out your front door.

Help with chronic pain

Research shows that moving more can help you deal with chronic pain, as well as life’s little aches and twinges. However, many individuals with chronic pain fear that if they participate in any form of physical activity, they will be in MORE pain, but this is far from the truth. Exercise in general has been found to be effective in relieving pain in numerous chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders, including chronic neck pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic low back pain. In addition, aerobic exercise has been proven to reduce pain and fatigue, improve peak oxygen uptake, health-related quality of life, and physical fitness.

The human body is not a machine where the more you use it, the better chance of it breaking down. We’re a biological system that is meant to move. If we DON’T move, that’s when the body starts to break down. The term “if you don’t use it, you lose it” refers directly to the human body. And you don’t have to join a CrossFit gym or run an ultra-marathon to reap the benefits, even something as simple as going dancing, playing with your kids, doing chair yoga, or going for a walk in the park will do the trick. Remember, keep it simple and make it fun, that way you won’t ever realize you’re actually doing exercise.

If you have a nagging injury or chronic condition that is preventing you from daily exercise or daily activites, physical therapy can help!

Beacon Physical Therapy

At Beacon Physical Therapy, we support our clients in establishing healthy movement patterns that help maintain strength, flexibility and mobility. If you are having an issue, make an appointment today. We’d love to meet you and get you back to doing what you love.