Everyday physical activity is beneficial to your health in many aspects. After a long day of work, many of us find it challenging to push ourselves to work out. The rewards of being self-disciplined to at least 30 minutes of exercise a day are endless. Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain, aid weight loss or help maintain a goal weight. Regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems including stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and risk of falls, just to name a few.
Working out improves muscle and bone strength. It also delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.
In my experience, as a physician assistant at VSSC, I see many patients who begin to feel better, then 6 months later the individual returns with the same pain as before. What happens most of the time, is the patient has failed to continue their home exercise program (HEP), provided to them by their physical therapist; in fact, 75% of patients will stop their HEP within 6 months of stopping physical therapy.
I’ve had the privilege of caring for a particular patient who presented with low back and right leg pain with a pain intensity 10/10 and 90% limitation of function. Lumbar MRI revealed a disc herniation and narrowing where the nerve exits the spine. Following two lumbar epidural steroid injections and completing 1 month of physical therapy the patient improved 90%. This individual became so motivated and passionate about her improvement that she purchased a home gym and posted her exercises on the wall. Daily, she exercises 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the evening. Her self-discipline and accountability have been the most crucial part of maintaining her improvement and keeping her back and leg pain to a minimum and most days eliminated.
At some point we all experience pain. Take control of your life; be active, responsible and passionate about your health. Ultimately, it is really up to you!
Good Luck!
Valley Sports & Spine Clinic Giving you Back your Life
Holly Williams, PA-C