Exercise IS Medicine

Being Exercise Right Week, Longevity Exercise Physiology Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Balmain and Pymble today are here to convince you that regular exercise is the number one thing you should be doing to look after your health. Exercise might not be seen as the “easy fix”, but you certainly get good bang for your buck! Regular exercise has been shown to have a fantastic effect on the management and prevention of chronic illness and injury including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and osteoarthritis. It also has amazing benefits for our mental health, overall well-being, and quality of life. If exercise were a pill, everyone would be taking it!

If exercise were a pill, everyone would be taking it!

So what dose of exercise is the most potent? We also need to consider the modality of exercise, is resistance or cardiovascular training best? Depending on your current health status and activity levels, the answer to this question will change. Just like how your GP will prescribe you medication, exercise prescription also needs to be individualised. If we were going to take a one size fits all approach, as a minimum everyone should be aiming to meet the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines of minimum 150minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise and two strength sessions a week. Shockingly, more than half of Australian adults do not meet these guidelines. This is placing a heavy burden on the Australian Health care system, with inactivity most closely linked to the development diabetes, bowel cancer, dementia, coronary artery disease and stroke.

If motivation to improve your own health is not enough to get you moving, consider the effect if could have on those closest to you. As we age, we start to see decreases in fitness, muscular strength, bone density and balance. This can lead to a loss in independence, increase your risk of falls and subsequent fracture

If motivation to improve your own health is not enough to get you moving, consider the effect if could have on those closest to you. As we age, we start to see decreases in fitness, muscular strength, bone density and balance. This can lead to a loss in independence, increase your risk of falls and subsequent fracture. When we are no longer able to get up out of a chair on our own, put on our own shoes or walk down to the local shops, it’s our family and friends who have to step in. Alternatively, you may need to go into a nursing home or assisted care, which can be a huge financial burden. By keeping active and slowing down the effects of ageing and maintaining your independence, not only will you improver your own quality of life, but also take the stress of your friends and family as well.

So where do you start? If you have never engaged in regular structured exercise before, it can feel overwhelming. Consider booking in with one of our Longevity Exercise Physiologist who specialise in prescribing exercise individualised to your health. You now know what the Australian Physical Activity guidelines are but depending on your current physical activity and health status, it may not be an appropriate place to start. Our Exercise Physiologist will work with you to set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based) to add clarity and structure to your exercise and expectations. We all know people who love to use ‘doctor google’ to diagnose their illness, and it never ends well. So do not do the same with your exercise! There are some weird and wacky myths and ideas involving exercise on the internet so it is always a good idea to consult a professional if you are unsure.

Our Vision at Longevity Exercise Physiology is to impact the lifespan and quality of life of our community with personalised Longevity Exercise prescription. We believe health must come first and are determined pass on the message to our clients, disrupting the pop culture and promoting the science. We do this every day through professionalism, teamwork and collaboration as well as developing meaningful relationships with our clients and community.

Ready to take charge of your health? Contact Longevity Personal Training and Exercise Physiology Edgecliff, Pymble, Marrickville, Randwick, Drummoyne, Balmain, Bella Vista on 1300 964 002 to enquire today.

Written by Georgia Wassall