How Can Physical Therapy Help Me During a Pandemic?
In the era of COVID, a brand new life language has been forced upon us. We now embrace solitude for the sake of our community and avoid physical interaction as an act of kindness towards our friends, families, and neighbors. The landscape of many industries has evolved rapidly, and our adaptation skills have been tested perhaps now more than ever. While we all settle into our new normal, the FX Physical Therapy family is here for you to support this transition (spoiler alert: in more ways than just providing exercise!).
Let’s Begin with the Obvious: Physical Activity
You knew this was coming! The imperative role of physical activity in disease prevention (and improving mental health, mood, sleep function, etc.) is not a new one. Even without a global pandemic, the CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity for adults per week. Social distancing guidelines, gyms being closed, and people appropriately adhering to stay-at-home orders introduce new obstacles for this goal to be achieved. How can we create feasible and sustainable ways to incorporate physical activity into your day? First, we listen to you and hear the ins and outs of your new routine. We also take into account the space, time, and equipment you have available at home to create a custom and effective plan to keep you moving and healthy.
Already Exercising?
Great! With many studios and trainers moving to virtual platforms, there are an endless number of resources available for home workouts. Even if you’ve already got a routine that works, it couldn’t hurt to sprinkle in some accessory work and prehab to mitigate the chances of injury and keep your joints, muscles, and nerves moving optimally!
Not Exercising But Still Feel Exhausted?
Believe it or not, feeling increased fatigue with decreased activity during these times is completely normal! Just like exercise places demands on your physical being, high levels of stress and uncertainty place demands on the nervous system. Go easy on yourself for feeling tired and place as much emphasis on getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, and hydration as you place on getting physical activity. There are lots of tips and strategies we can use to find this balance.
Working From Home?
If you find yourself having aches and pains after a full day of sitting for virtual work meetings, you’re certainly not alone. Many of us had to quickly fashion a functional work space from home, and it may not be ideal. Let us meet with you virtually and take a look at your set up to make recommendations.
Just Overall Lacking Motivation?
We. Hear. That. So let’s work together on the accountability front! We can take this opportunity to really take a deep dive into your programming and make sure that it’s checking all of the boxes. Let us provide some structure to your week and allow you to continue making strides forward. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that we are stronger together.
