Summer break is here! For many of you this means you get to spend a whole lot more time with your kids for the next 3 months. As the use of electronics continues to grow in today’s society, the amount of physical activity individuals (especially kids) get during their week continues to plummet. Sitting is becoming America’s secret health hazard, arguably more than smoking and other harmful activities. It’s important to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, and for kids, that number should be closer to 60 minutes. So, this summer, we want you and your kids to be healthier, so let’s get moving!
Safe Summer Activities:
- Walking:
- This is probably the number 1 most underrated exercise around! Walking is a great way to get exercise without overloading your joints or over stressing your muscles. Just 30 minutes a day can help you stay healthy and decrease your risk
- Hiking:
- If you want a little more challenge and a more scenic view, try hiking. This can be a great way to challenge your heart, lungs, and legs a little more and enjoy the great outdoors while you’re at it!
- Running:
- Running can be an excellent form of exercise for maintaining and improving your overall cardiovascular health, but it can also put a lot of strain on your muscles and joints if your form, strength, range of motion, or shoes aren’t up to snuff. When building your running, make sure to only add 10% of time or distance each week to help avoid any big injuries.
- Biking:
- This is a great way to get similar cardiovascular effects of running with less wear and tear on your joints. You can also cover more ground and enjoy more scenery.
- Swimming:
- This is another great exercise without punishing your joints too much. Beware – swimming can sometimes result in shoulder injuries. If you’ve had any “neutral spine” training in or outside of Physical Therapy, this would be a good time to use it! Don’t overarch at your low back!
- Playing at the Park/Backyard:
- Activities in your yard or at the park can be fun and healthy! Try some games like frisbee golf, ultimate frisbee, or just some walking around the park to have some fun, enjoy the sun, and improve your health!
While the above activities are relatively safe, if you don’t have proper strength, flexibility, or posture to meet the demands, you could begin experiencing pain. If you want a tune up to have fun with less pain this summer, give us a call at 541-752-0545 to schedule your preferred appointment today!
*Pictures through Google courtesy of: https://www.wordonfire.org/WoF-Blog/WoF-Blog/June-2013/Humor-Ten-Summer-Activities-to-Enhance-Your-Cathol.aspx
https://www.keystoneresort.com/activities/summer-kids-activities.aspx
