As the flu season arrives and coronavirus continues to spread, you may be limiting trips out to your usual places including your gym. Fortunately, with our help, we can design a home workout/exercise plan to help you maintain your progress or continue moving toward your health goals.
Now is the time to stay active and moving to maintain your immune system. Winter exercise boosts immunity during cold and flu season. A few minutes a day can help prevent simple bacterial and viral infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Exercising at home doesn’t have to be an ordeal. You don’t need lots of expensive and large workout equipment to build or maintain your strength while getting exercise. It can be simple, quick and even done from sitting on your couch.
We have MANY exercise or stretching videos on our Facebook page or Youtube channel that you can use in your own home and own your schedule. Check them out at these links: HERE for our Facebook page and HERE for our Youtube channel.
While many exercises can be completed without any equipment at all, you might also benefit from these simple home equipment options:
RESISTANCE BANDS
Resistance bands can be used in tons of exercises to help you safely build up strength and even help you stretch more effectively. They are also inexpensive and take up little space in your home. You may start out with a lighter resistance band, but can easily purchase stronger resistance bands as you build up strength. Resistance bands are also safe to use on your own.
MASSAGE BALLS, STICKS AND ROLLERS
While there’s no perfect replacement for your physical therapist’s trained hands, you can still massage tight tissue at home with the help of massage balls, sticks and rollers. These devices help you pinpoint tight connective tissue, muscles and more to provide gentle, concentrated pressure. Like resistance bands, this equipment is relatively inexpensive and takes up little space.
EXERCISE BALLS
Another inexpensive and versatile piece of equipment is the exercise ball. Exercise balls can be used to improve balance, core strength and posture. Your ELITE physical therapist may recommend that you use exercise balls near a wall or somewhere where you can hold onto something else. Always follow your physical therapist’s instructions when using an exercise ball.
RECUMBENT BIKE
You can also invest more money in larger pieces of exercise equipment like bikes, treadmills or Nordic tracks. Recumbent bikes are especially good for people experiencing neurological difficulties like Parkinson’s disease or a stroke. They put you in a safe, reclined position while allowing you to build up leg and arm strength that is more safe and secure. It is also great for Osteoarthritis of the lower extremity because it puts the back, hips and knees in a less strained position unlike and upright bike.
Talk to your ELITE physical therapist about which equipment is right for you and how to properly use it.
At ELITE Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are dedicated to your health and safety. If you would like home exercises just for general health and well being instead of going to a gym, your ELITE Physical Therapist can help with that.
Have a pressing injury, pain or ache? We are here for you NOW and when you need us! Call us today to schedule your appointment.
Merry Christmas to You and Your Families!
Abby LeBlanc, DPT
