Health & Fitness Friday - The Importance of Strength Training in This Pandemic

We know physical activity and exercise is important to our health and well being. And we know that being physically fit reduces the risk of serious complications should we be exposed to COVID-19.But what do most of us think of when we consider being “physically active?” Walking? Jogging? Riding a Bike? We used to think about about going to the gym - and I believe we will again in the future - but even then, there’s a reason the elliptical, the stationary bike and the treadmill are the most frequented pieces of equipment in any globogym. When we think of physical activity, we think of cardiovascular exercise.Well, there are decades of research on the benefits of strength training, also called resistance training and it’s benefits for muscle mass, bone density, circulatory health and mental health - particularly in reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety.It can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. In older individuals, it appears that resistance training is more effective than jogging for reducing risk of sarcopenia (muscle wasting) and cognitive decline.Despite all these benefits, surveys of over 1.6 million American adults indicate that about 60% report they do no strengthening exercise - almost twice the number who report doing no cardiovascular exercise.But here’s the thing - strength training required almost NO EQUIPMENT - particularly if you’ve never done it before. If you’ve never done any resistance training, particularly if you are an older adult - Your body weight and a bit of floor space is all you’ll need for quite some time. Sounds fairly convenient given we’re all working hard to maintain social distancing guidelines and stay healthy.Harvard Medical School - Tips for safe and effective strength trainingGive yourself the gift of STRENGTH holiday season. Skip the air frier and ask your family to invest in your health. Hire a coach for a month, or sign up for a training program that will change your life forever! Check out everything we have to offer at Stronger In Motion  - from individualized coaching, to programs that cost about $1 a day and will get you in the best shape of your life!Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt