The World Health Organization defines health as "Physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease and infirmity". Exercise is indeed a powerful thing. It can reduce and prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction within the body. It is completely free and easy for most to access (when thinking about basic forms of exercise). It also has other positive impacts on our social life, maintaining a healthy weight, and wider-reaching psychological impacts on our levels of confidence and self-esteem. So exercise is thought of as medicine that can improve the quality of human life.
Regular aerobic exercise, HIIT and resistance or weighted training have all been found to be beneficial for health from multiple research studies. The difficulty comes (as it does with most medicines) in the dosage and intensity when we are prescribing exercise to people - sadly there isn't a 'one fits all' as we are all so different in our physical and genetic makeup, not to mention what we each enjoy and what we may or may not keep to as a weekly routine. As a Physiotherapist, we are experts in assessing what you can or can't physically do, and give advice on how to get you there in the safest and most effective way. We also need to take into account if you have an injury or a serious illness, which may prevent your usual exercise. If this is the case we will always try and provide alternative workouts alongside rehabilitation to get you back doing what you enjoy safely. Research is always evolving, but currently, the NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week (see infographic). Generally speaking, all exercise is good, but if you're unsure about returning to the gym, or want to try something new 4PerformanceUK are always here to help guide you. Drop us a line or comment below with what sport you already love, or what you'd always wanted to try - now might just be the right time!
References : Vina et al. Exercise acts as a drug; the pharmacological benefits of exercise. Br J Pharmacol.2012 167(1): 1–12. OR Vina et al.Br J Pharmacol. 2012 167(1): 1–12.
Milanović et al. Effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIT) and Continuous Endurance Training for VO2max Improvements: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials. Sports Med. 2015 45(10):1469-81.
OR Milanović et al. Sports Med. 2015 45(10):1469-81.