Only one in three adults get the recommended amount of physical activity their bodies need each week (according to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition).
Impact Physical Therapy of Hillsboro and Banks physical therapist Kent Bond says it’s difficult to find fault when an individual is making an effort to exercise … even if the effort is slightly misguided.
October is National Physical Therapy Month and physical therapists are the medical community’s preeminent experts in movement, fitness, and musculoskeletal function and injury.
Bond views this month as an opportune time to correct what he sees as a few common misconceptions about exercise.
“Some of the more common personal goals people make revolve around health, fitness and weight loss, and we as physical therapists are dedicated to supporting these goals through a number of individualized services,” said Bond, owner of Impact Physical Therapy of Hillsboro and Banks.
“In doing so, though, it’s important to us that people work toward these objectives in a safe and healthful manner – one which most efficiently moves them toward their goals.”
In this spirit, here are five exercise myths Bond finds to be common among many fitness-minded people:
Myth 1. Stretching before exercise prevents injuries.
Perhaps surprisingly, research suggests there’s no connection between pre-workout stretching and injury prevention. In addition, stretching before an activity or competition can actually weaken performance.
Instead, Bond recommends warming up dynamically before a workout; walking, jogging, doing lunges and leg/arm swings, etc.
Stretching is incredibly important but do your stretches independent of your workouts.
Myth 2. The more, the better.
For the more goal-driven crowd, a pedal-to-the-metal approach to fitness can seem the quickest and most efficient way to better health.
However, it’s critical that workout intensity and duration remain in line with one’s current fitness levels and limits.
It’s also important to schedule recovery, or off-days, into your routine. Failing to do so can increase your injury risk as well as the risk of burnout.
Myth 3. Cross-training is for athletes only.
Cross-training is simply working activities into your regimen that differ from your preferred or usual activities.
The goal is to improve your overall fitness level by challenging your cardio, strength and balance in different ways.
Such “training diversification” will help maximize your workout potential while helping to prevent overuse injuries and burnout.
Myth 4. Aerobic is more important than strength training.
Whether it’s because some are concerned too much about “bulking up” or they feel spending their limited time on ellipticals and stationary bikes will maximize their efforts, cardio is often a focus for those seeking to improve health.
It shouldn’t be the only focus.
Muscular fitness is just as important as cardio for such issues as weight management, bone health, and injury prevention.
Myth 5. If sore or injured, rest is always best.
While rest has a long history as a go-to response to soreness, pain and injury, research now suggests movement and “active recovery” can actually speed up the healing process, specifically when guided by a physical therapist.
If pain or injury is keeping you from getting a full dose of exercise and physical activity each week, Bond suggests visiting a physical therapist.
Highly educated and licensed health care professionals, physical therapists are experts at helping people reduce pain, improve/restore mobility, and ultimately lead more healthful, active lives.