The snow, ice and social distancing may have driven you indoors, but your body still needs to keep moving. Compass Physical Therapy’s Nancy Hartung, PTA, likes to watch movies while walking on her treadmill during the winter months.
Walking 20-minutes a day can make a difference. Click the image for more physical activity guidelines.
“I’ll watch half a movie one night,” says Nancy, “then finish it the second night.”
Don’t have a treadmill? You can still get your heart rate up and your joints moving by walking the halls, jogging up and down your stairs, running in place, jumping rope, doing jumping jacks--there’s an endless array of options. The movement experts at CompassPT can help you choose the best ones for your fitness level and goals.
While walking indoors on a treadmill is a great option to stay in shape during winter months, Nancy has noticed that it doesn’t have the same full benefits of walking outside or on a trail.
“In my experience I felt that after two months on the treadmill, I didn’t have the same power out on the trail,” Nancy reports. “Because of the movement of the treadmill, you don’t have to propel off the ground as much.”
To minimize loss of power and reap all of the benefits of getting outside (fresh air, vitamin D, etc.), she encourages everyone to take advantage of good weather days and get out there!
If you are experiences any barriers to being active, contact our office for a personal assessment.