The Benefits of Staying Active with Help from Dry Needling

The importance of exercise and regular physical activity cannot be overstated. Our bodies are made to move, meaning that activity keeps us strong and limber while reducing our chances of injuries and other muscle or joint-related damage. Not only that, but staying active can prevent a wide range of diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Regular exercise is a foundational aspect of good health. While dry needle treatments are an excellent way to help recovery and ease pain, you maximize the overall benefit when you use these treatments as part of an overall activity or fitness plan.

The Benefits of Regular Physical Activity

Even just 30 minutes a day of physical activity can do the following for you:

• Reduce the risk of heart attack
• Manage your weight
• Lower your blood cholesterol levels
• Lower the risk of certain types of cancer
• Lower your blood pressure
• Strengthen your bones, muscles, and joints
• Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
• Improve your balance
• Allow you to recover more quickly from injuries
• Improve the quality of your sleep
• Heighten your energy levels

These are just some of the positive physical effects. Exercise has also been shown to improve mental health, alleviating the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and various other mood disorders. This is likely because it stimulates the production of serotonin and endorphins, which are associated with happiness and elation.

Start Slow, and Talk to Your Doctor

If you have gone through a long period of being sedentary, it’s important to take things slow. Thirty minutes, three times a week should be a good place to start. Your muscles will need to ease into regular exercise, so starting off too strong can sometimes result in pain or soreness, although dry needling can help with this.

If you’re over the age of forty-five, have some preexisting conditions, or are recovering from an injury, make sure to consult your physician first before starting an exercise routine.

Some other factors that you may need to discuss with your doctor before embarking on a new exercise routine are:

• Experiencing regular chest pains from physical exertion
• Frequent spells of fainting or severe dizziness
• Moderate physical activity making you breathless
• Hereditary factors of heart disease
• Recovery from physical injuries, such as piriformis knot injuries
• Pregnancy

You will likely undergo a process called pre-exercise screening to help determine what level of intensity is possible for you, at least in the beginning of your exercise journey. Usually, the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks.

What Routines to Start With

At the end of the day, any amount of physical activity is better than none. Even if you’re only capable of moving for a few minutes, it is important to do so regularly. Only by doing it regularly can you increase your capacity. In the beginning, you might only be capable of exercising once a week for fifteen minutes. A few months from now and perhaps with the help of needle treatment, you might be exercising every day. Even beyond that, you might be capable of regular weight training.

A good state to work towards is to accumulate a weekly amount of 150 to 300 minutes of exercise that is moderate in intensity, or at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise. An equivalent combination of both is also possible. Muscle strengthening should also be done on at least two days per week.

Exercise for a Healthier You

Exercise is the key to a happy and healthy life. Though it might be challenging, and sometimes the results take a while to manifest, it’s definitely worth it down the line. The important thing is to start the journey, no matter how slowly, and to stick to it.

How Dry Needling Can Help

Throughout this journey, you are likely to experience various aches and pains. Dry needling can help alleviate those pains with targeted treatment. Dr. Chanatry provides dry needle treatments in Jacksonville, FL, to patients in need of pain relief. During treatment, he inserts thin filament needles into trigger points, melting away stress and tension. Get back to the activities you enjoy by scheduling an appointment with us today.