Part 1: The Essentiality of Physical Well-being
When it comes to our well-being, there is an undeniable truth that we cannot ignore: taking care of our bodies is absolutely essential. Our bodies are intricate and extraordinary machines, designed to support us in all aspects of life. Just as a car requires regular maintenance, tune-ups, and care to ensure optimal performance and to prevent breaking down, our bodies too need the same level of attention and investment. Through choosing the name for my business, Essential Physical Therapy and Wellness, I wanted to emphasize the fundamental importance of prioritizing our bodies and making conscious efforts to invest in our overall health.
So how can we break this down? There are 4 categories that are essential to maintaining physical well-being throughout life. As you read ahead, take a moment to consider how much attention you give to each area, and how your choices may be positively or negatively affecting your life.
Strength:
Maintaining good muscle strength is essential for overall health and well-being, especially as we age. Through a natural process known as sarcopenia, muscle mass and strength decrease approximately 3–8% per decade after the age of 30 and 12-16% per decade after the age of 60. This is important to know! If you aren’t doing anything about it, you can lose muscle mass and daily things like bringing in groceries, picking up your Amazon box, and even getting out of your friend’s low sports car can be harder and even cause strain injury to your body. All because you had another birthday!
It is imperative that you know how to strength-train properly and effectively to maintain and build muscle mass as you age. And no… sorry… but walking is NOT strength-training. Strength training involve activities that apply resistance to your muscles like weightlifting, resistance band exercises, bodyweight exercises (e.g., push-ups, squats), and gym machines designed to target specific muscle groups.
Mobility:
What do the following things have in common? 1) Inability to put on own shoes. 2) Shoulder or back injured from playing tennis or golf. 3) Constantly losing balance and even falling. 4) Being in a car accident because of another car in your blindspot. Have a guess? (Well, it’s in the heading but I’ll tell you anyway.) All these things are a result of having decreased mobility in one or more joints and are actual issues my patient have had that could’ve been avoided with improved joint mobility.
Mobility encompasses the ability of our joints to move freely and easily in all directions. Mobility can be compromised due to factors like reduced muscle strength and flexibility, joint stiffness, injuries, and age-related conditions. Preserving or regaining mobility enhances our overall quality of life by reducing the risk of falls and injury, promoting better circulation, and ensuring a more active and fulfilling lifestyle in our later years.
Posture:
Good posture is more than just about how you look. It is the key to healthy living. Proper posture ensures that our body is aligned correctly, reducing the risk of strain on muscles, joints, and ligaments. Negative effects of bad posture can include (but are not limited to) back and neck pain, headaches, poor breathing, impaired digestion, decreased balance, joint degeneration, protruding belly, increased fall risk, impaired sleep, and even a depressed mood.
Our habits, lack of awareness, and lack of core strength are big contributing factors to poor posture. By focusing on good posture habits through exercises and stretching, ergonomic adjustments, and mindfulness, we can minimize the negative impacts of aging on our musculoskeletal system, helping us maintain independence and a higher quality of life as we grow older.
Balance:
Balance is a foundational skill that allows us to perform routine tasks like walking, getting in and out of the shower, reaching for objects, or putting on shoes or pants when there is no seat available without the risk of falling. Good balance is influenced by a combination of factors, including strength, mobility, posture, proprioception, neurological function, and vestibular function.
As we grow older, our sense of balance naturally deteriorates, which can lead to an elevated risk of accidents and injuries, especially falls. Challenging your balance now, with all of these factors in consideration, can help you preserve good balance and promote a higher quality of life as you navigate the challenges of aging.
Falling behind in one or more of these areas? Or not sure and want a full body assessment? It’s time to have your much-needed, aka “essential” tune-up for your body, so that your musculoskeletal system can perform at its best.
For more information on how we can help you improve in one or more of the “essential” areas, call (424) 209-7884 or click here and speak directly to a licensed physical therapist.
(Stay-tuned for the next blog and uncover the essential joy and purpose in your life and the transformative role of holistic physical therapy and wellness services in fostering a meaningful and fulfilling journey.)