Some of the patients visiting our Fareham chiropractic clinic for the first time are feeling unwell because they have a sedentary lifestyle. They are spending many hours sitting down each day, which inevitably takes a toll on their health.
At Homewood Chiropractic, our goal is to treat these patients using a holistic approach that combines chiropractic treatments, physical therapy and a variety of lifestyle adjustments.
We often focus on helping patients incorporate more aerobic exercise into their daily routine, as it delivers many incredible health benefits. In this post, our Fareham chiropractor highlights a few of those benefits.
Benefits Of Aerobic Exercise
#1 – Can Reduce Lower Back Pain
Sitting for long periods compresses the spinal column, which can place excessive strain on the lower back.
If you have lower back pain, exercise can help in several ways. Exercise will:
- Strengthen the muscles in the lower back, which provides more support for the spine
- Increase blood flow to the lower back, which promotes healing and reduces inflammation
- Reduce stiffness in the lower back
- Release endorphins, which are chemicals produced by the body to relieve pain
- Encourage you to spend less time in a chair, which gives the spinal discs a chance to recuperate from compression
The best way to deal with lower back pain is to work with one of our team of experienced chiropractors to create an exercise program that is achievable and effective. They will be able to help you choose exercises that you can perform safely, given your current fitness level and back health.
#2 – Improved Bone Health
Regular exercise has been shown to maintain and even improve bone density. By using exercise to develop stronger bones, you can improve your posture, balance, strength and mobility.
Having strong bones will make it much easier to safely participate in activities that involve a lot of movement, like dancing, climbing stairs, running, aerobics and cycling. Your sporting performance will also improve if your bones are healthy.
Perhaps the best benefit is a decreased risk of contracting degenerative bone diseases. Researchers have discovered that people with strong bones have a lower risk of developing conditions like osteoporosis.
#3 – Stronger Muscles
Exercise improves the size, strength and lifting capacity of muscles. With stronger muscles, you will be able to carry out daily activities more easily, perform better on the sporting field and feel more confident.
Having stronger muscles also provides a significant boost to your mobility, stability and balance. These improvements can reduce your risk of having a fall, which is a particularly important benefit for older people who might feel unsteady on their feet.
#4 – Prevents Obesity
Obesity is very common in the UK. A health survey from 2017 found that 28.7% of adults in England are obese and a further 35.6% are overweight.
Unfortunately, obesity has a significant impact on a person’s health. In addition to increasing the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer, it also severely impacts the health of the musculoskeletal system.
The excess body weight caused by obesity places additional strain on the body’s muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones. It increases the risk of lower back pain, poor posture, joint injuries and several other musculoskeletal conditions.
A proportion of the patients visiting Homewood Chiropractic Clinic are currently battling obesity. We help them by providing chiropractic care and dietary advice. We always recommend low-to-moderate aerobic exercise as it consumes excess calories in the diet and encourages the body to convert fat cells into energy.
#5 – Improved Mental Health
Once you get into the habit of exercising, it becomes exhilarating and very enjoyable. The rush of endorphins, adrenaline and fresh air can really improve a person’s mood.
Researchers have found that regular exercise can even reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and negative mood. It also boosts self-esteem and cognitive function. On top of all these great benefits, exercise strengthens your social connections if you work out with other people.
#6 – Reduced Risk Of Chronic Disease
There is a mountain of evidence suggesting that regular exercise reduces the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. In terms of cancer, it has been shown to protect people from developing cancer in the breast, uterus, colon and prostate.
It reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering the level of fats and cholesterol in the body (which contribute to hardening of the arteries). Exercise reduces the risk of Type II diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels and helping insulin work more effectively.
#7 – Improves The Performance Of Your Brain
When you exercise, your body will release a wide variety of beneficial proteins, hormones and other natural chemicals. Many of these components will be beneficial to the brain, improving its structure and function. In other words, exercise will help you think, plan, learn and make decisions more effectively. It can also slow down the rate of cognitive decline experienced as a result of ageing.
Please note : before commencing on any new form of exercise you should seek advice from your GP or other healthcare professional.
If you would like to book a visit with one of our team of chiropractors at Homewood Chiropractic Clinic in FAreham, give us a call on 01329 280 283.
Our Experience Counts: 55 Years in Fareham
Serving the people of Fareham, and surrounding areas of Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the local areas of Whiteley, Hedge End, Locks Heath & Portchester
