The Benefits of Low Impact Exercises

Many people think that the only type of exercise that offers the greatest value to their health are high-impact exercises - commonly known as HIT exercises. Although it is hard to ignore the benefits of these exercises, low impact exercises are also essential to your general health. In fact, low impact exercises play an integral part in any exercise regimen. The following are the importance of low impact exercises and why you should do them on a regular basis:


Improved cardiovascular health
Low impact exercises can immensely improve your cardiovascular system. Studies show that engaging in low impact exercises on a regular basis is one of the best ways of preventing the development of cardiovascular disease. Some of the low impact exercises that have immense benefits include swimming, bike riding, and using the elliptical machine, just to mention but a few. If you are already diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease, these exercises will help you manage the condition.


Reduced joint complications
The main reason why people engage in low impact exercises is that these exercises typically do not damage the joints. When you engage in other forms of exercises, especially those that are intensive in nature and require the use of a lot of energy and joint movements, you could end up experiencing joint pains and fatigue. No matter how careful you are, HITs put you at risk for at least some pain in the joints over time. Low impact exercises, on the other hand, help to mitigate the risk of joint pain. You will get many of the same benefits that you would have gotten from more intensive exercises but without going through the pain and over-exertion issues.


Increased coordination
Low impact exercises like riding a stationary bicycle can help an individual recover from an injury. You will need a clearance from your physical therapist or doctor to start any physical activity that will improve coordination and enhance your recovery. Low impact exercises are the most recommended forms of exercises for patients recovering from injuries because they are not so strenuous. Plus, they are effective in enhancing balancing and coordination.


A lifetime of fitness
The good thing about low impact exercises is that they can be performed by anyone irrespective of age or gender. Whether you are middle-aged, a senior or a youngster, you can perform these exercises to remain active, keep fit and live a healthy lifestyle.
As you age, your muscle strength, balance, and overall performance tend to decline and engaging in highly intensive exercise may no longer be viable. The only way to stay active is by engaging in low impact exercises.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Low Impact Exercises That Can Help You Lose Weight

When it comes to weight loss and burning calories, many people elect for high-intensity workouts as opposed to low impact exercises. This is because high-intensity exercises have been advertised as the most effective when it comes to weight loss. As much as this may seem to be true, low impact exercises can also help you lose weight, maintain a physically fit body and above all, live a healthy lifestyle. The question many people will ask is, are there low impact exercises that can help you lose weight? Yes, and here are just a some of them:

Walking

Walking is a form of exercise that is stress-free and offers immense benefits. On top of being a form of exercise, walking improves your mood and reduces stress. To benefit from walking you will need to do at least one to two kilometers every day. If taking a stroll is not good enough, you can make it a little bit more intensive by hitting the hills or adding some weights. You can add some weights by carrying a backpack that has some items. Just make sure that you maintain good posture.

Elliptical machine

The elliptical machines are very effective when it comes to reducing the extra stress on your legs when exercising. They are the best alternative to treadmills and very effective in weight loss. For you to benefit from the use of the elliptical, try to work out for at least 30 minutes non-stop. This way you will exercise almost the entire body parts and burn a considerable amount of calories. These machines give your body a thorough workout for both the upper body as well as the lower body.

Cycling

Cycling is another form of low-intensity workouts that is effective and does not strain your joints or back. You can use the traditional bicycle or use recumbent exercise bikes. If you do not have a bicycle, you can go to the gym and use the stationary bikes available there and still lose some pounds. If you are a beginner, you can start at a pace that is comfortable for you and progress from there.

Swimming

Swimming is an effective exercise when it comes to losing weight. It slims and tones your whole body. This is because you use all the muscle groups in order to swim. Your arms will be toned, the legs, the waist area, the back, and shoulders will all be involved in the exercise. This ensures that you burn calories and tone your muscles effectively.

Low impact exercises are good because you can do them without the use of expensive machines in needed. You can do them almost anywhere and still benefit from exercising. Furthermore, they are not strenuous and do not cause joint pains.     

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Healthy Living: Why Walking Is Good For You

Walking is widely recommended by health and fitness gurus for its numerous health benefits. Today, there are several physical activities you can engage yourself in but walking is one of the best of them all. This is because; walking is not complicated, requires minimal or no equipment to perform, it is low impact, can be done by anybody at any time and above all, typically has little or no injuries. Unlike other forms of exercises walking is ideal for people from all "walks" of life and requires no training whatsoever to perform. The following are some of the numerous benefits of walking and why medical Science emphasizes that it is good for your health:

Reduces the risk of heart diseases

Studies show that walking on a regular basis can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases which includes heart problems as well as stroke. Walking lowers bad cholesterol levels in the body while at the same time increasing the HDL cholesterol levels in the body. Increased HDL (good) cholesterol levels help in keeping blood pressure under control.

Helps in maintaining a healthy weight

Medical science points out that for you to lose weight, it is important that you burn more calories than you eat on a daily basis. Walking is one of the easiest ways of burning calories. This is attributed to the fact that when you walk, each and every movable part of your body is involved. This means that each muscle responsible for the movement of these parts is beneficially exercised in the process.

Helps in preventing dementia

From an orthopedic’s point of view, a huge percentage of the elderly population suffers from dementia simply because of reduced brain activity. Being active has a positive effect on the brain function and helps it to be alert. This reduces dementia. Therefore, in order to help reduce the risk of dementia, it is advisable to take a walk on a daily basis.

Enhances bone health

Walking stimulates and strengthens the bones. This, in turn, increases the bone density and boasts their development and reduces injuries associated with unhealthy bone formation or development especially in women. On top of that, walking also helps in maintaining healthy joints and prevents the risk of contracting arthritis as well as sports injuries.

Helps in toning your arms, bum, tummy, and legs

A simple walk can immensely improve and strengthen your legs, shape your calves, hamstrings, quads, and also helps lift your rear muscles (glutes). Additionally, when you maintain a good posture while walking, it can also help tone your abs and shape your waist as well. Therefore, it is important to take a walk on a regular basis.

Improves balance and coordination

Walking helps in improving general body balance and coordination of all parts of the body. When you walk, almost each and every part of your body is involved in the activity. This makes it easy to improve coordination and also allows you to help develop better balance for many parts of your body. It is little wonder that individuals recovering from any form of the ailment are often encouraged to take simple walks as a form of exercise.

If you thought walking is not important to your health, rethink again. For you to stay fit and maintain a healthy body, you are advised to walk on a regular basis (with your doctor permitting). However, to ensure that you turn your walk into an exercise activity, it is important to maintain a good posture and also include a few purposeful movements.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410