Exercising During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sports medicine physician Dr. Gabe Mirkin writes on the immune enhancing benefits of exercise. He cites research showing benefits while cautioning against exercising with symptoms of COVID.
Remember the newer research shows that small amounts of exercise can have large benefits.
Should You Exercise During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

How Your Mental Health Reaps the Benefits of Exercise

My last post concerned that beneficial effects of exercise on physical functioning. Research also shows large benefits for mental health. Studies are now showing that exercise appears to be as good as existing drug treatments across a range of conditions, such as mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and dementia.
We do not have to do marathons. Just about any amount is beneficial. Below is a great article from Psychology Today on this issue.

How Your Mental Health Reaps the Benefits of Exercise

New research shows why physical exercise is essential to mental health.

High rate of disabililty after senior patients leave the hospital

We now have overwhelming evidence of the benefits of activity and I spend much time encouraging more activiity for my patients. This Kaiser Health News article references a study showing that one-third of patients age 70 and older leave the hospital more disabled than when they arrived because many times they are restricted from getting out of bed.
Can you imagine how much disability this creates?
‘Fear Of Falling’: How Hospitals Do Even More Harm By Keeping Patients In Bed

Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms

Good article from Mayo Clinic on how exercise can help with depression and anxiety. I am board certified in rehabilitation and continually discuss the benefits of activity and exercise with my patients. Did you know that exercise has been shown to be as effective as drug therapy for mild and moderate depression, and it can help with anxiety syndromes? Only 30 minutes 5 times per week can have significant benefits and even 10-15 minutes per day can be beneficial. It does not have to be structured....taking the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator is exercise.Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms

New Physical Activity Guidelines Urge Americans: Move More, Sit Less

New federal exercise guidelines have changed the needed exercise duration from 10 minutes to a couple minutes. New research has shown that it is the total exercise volume and not the length of exercise bouts that is important. Also we have learned of many more benefits of exercise since the first guidelines were released 10 years ago.
Are you getting your recommended amount of exercise?
New Physical Activity Guidelines Urge Americans: Move More, Sit Less

Take the Sting Out of Sciatica

I treat patients with sciatica every day at my clinic. As an avid cyclist, I thought I would post the findings of this new study from Finland which studied 35,000 people. They found a 33% decrease of hospitalization for sciatica in bikers and walkers. This contrasts with a 33% increase with obesity and a significant increase with smoking.
This was an observational study so it cannot show causation, but there are still many documented benefits of exercise on back disorders including sciatica to make it a very worthwhile habit.
Has anyone felt that exercise helped them with a back disorder including sciatica?
Take the Sting Out of Sciatica