What do you think?
Rate this book
One Exercise Solution: Maximum Results with Minimum Effort: Improve balance strength and flexibility to regain or maintain independence
Exercise is the closest thing to a “fountain of youth” that we know of so far. Almost every day a new scientific study is published indicating the benefits of exercise that include:
1. Improving or maintaining functional ability.
2. Improving balance.
3. Preventing falls.
4. Improving mood, decreasing depression.
5. Improving body composition (less fat, more muscle, and denser bone).
6. Improving ability to deal with physical and mental stress.
7. Improving sleep quality (which in turn improves mood, cognition, eating habits, immune function).
8. Improving cognition and preventing or delaying the onset of dementia.
9. Improving sexual function.
As a physical therapist, I put a huge value on the first item on the list above: Maintaining or improving function for myself and my patients. Exercise that works muscles and burns calories, but does not improve or maintain functional ability is WAY less interesting and important than exercise that is functionally meaningful. Unfortunately, many exercises that I see recommended for elders are totally non-functional. One of the most important abilities to maintain or develop is standing up from a chair, toilet or bed. Over the course of my career working with patients in the hospital right after surgery or illness and when they get home, I have worked with scores if not hundreds of people who were not able to toilet themselves without help. Very often these people needed help not to walk or wipe themselves, but needed help STANDING UP FROM A CHAIR.
Unless I am crushed by a giant asteroid or run over by a truck, there will likely come a day when I am unable to toilet myself. Given my experience, I know that is most likely to be because I am unable to stand up from a chair, bed or toilet seat (usually the lowest seat in the home). I would like to “kick” that day “as far down the street” into the future as possible. I bet you would like to do that too. Developing surplus strength, flexibility and skill in sit↔stand is a surefire way to keep that day from coming prematurely.
1. Improving or maintaining functional ability.
2. Improving balance.
3. Preventing falls.
4. Improving mood, decreasing depression.
5. Improving body composition (less fat, more muscle, and denser bone).
6. Improving ability to deal with physical and mental stress.
7. Improving sleep quality (which in turn improves mood, cognition, eating habits, immune function).
8. Improving cognition and preventing or delaying the onset of dementia.
9. Improving sexual function.
As a physical therapist, I put a huge value on the first item on the list above: Maintaining or improving function for myself and my patients. Exercise that works muscles and burns calories, but does not improve or maintain functional ability is WAY less interesting and important than exercise that is functionally meaningful. Unfortunately, many exercises that I see recommended for elders are totally non-functional. One of the most important abilities to maintain or develop is standing up from a chair, toilet or bed. Over the course of my career working with patients in the hospital right after surgery or illness and when they get home, I have worked with scores if not hundreds of people who were not able to toilet themselves without help. Very often these people needed help not to walk or wipe themselves, but needed help STANDING UP FROM A CHAIR.
Unless I am crushed by a giant asteroid or run over by a truck, there will likely come a day when I am unable to toilet myself. Given my experience, I know that is most likely to be because I am unable to stand up from a chair, bed or toilet seat (usually the lowest seat in the home). I would like to “kick” that day “as far down the street” into the future as possible. I bet you would like to do that too. Developing surplus strength, flexibility and skill in sit↔stand is a surefire way to keep that day from coming prematurely.
72 pages, Paperback
Published December 19, 2016
6 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 18, 2019
Basic
Basic but really helpful. Just shows whatever your fitness level, you can move and do something positive! If your movement is very limited but you want to get moving more, this is the book for you! It helped me with my knee osteoarthritis difficulties...keep moving is the answer!
Basic but really helpful. Just shows whatever your fitness level, you can move and do something positive! If your movement is very limited but you want to get moving more, this is the book for you! It helped me with my knee osteoarthritis difficulties...keep moving is the answer!
Displaying 1 of 1 review