{"id":403,"date":"2021-07-07T07:30:28","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T02:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wecreatedesign.co\/dev\/WP\/fitterfly\/?p=403"},"modified":"2024-06-12T16:13:10","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T10:43:10","slug":"physical-fitness-in-times-of-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/physical-fitness-in-times-of-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Physical Fitness in Times of Covid-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted physical activity in people of all ages. In many countries, both indoor and outdoor sports and recreational facilities, such as gyms, public swimming pools and playgrounds, are closed.<\/p>\n

Online communication for work, leisure and shopping is now part of daily family routines and children are using the internet for school work and social interaction.<\/p>\n

But because of these very restrictions, it becomes increasingly important to find ways to remain physically active.<\/p>\n

Physical activity includes all forms of active recreation, playing sports, cycling, swimming, walking or even doing household chores.<\/p>\n

It need not always be a monotonous exercise regime but can also include play, dance, gardening and even house cleaning for that matter.<\/p>\n

Why\u2019s it so important?<\/p>\n

Well, here are four reasons to get active in the times of COVID-19<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  1. Great for your overall health:<\/strong>\u00a0The physical benefits of staying active include musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health, helps you maintain or lose weight and increased neuromuscular awareness, for coordination and controlling movement. Physical activity also plays a crucial role in reducing high blood pressure, risk of heart diseases, stroke and various cancers. For older people, it helps by improving balance and in children, it helps with proper growth and development, which in-turn reduces risk of injuries or diseases.<\/li>\n
  2. Improves blood circulation:\u00a0<\/strong>Even a bare minimum of 3-5 minutes of physical activity including stretching or walking can ease muscle strain, relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation — which is often hampered when we tend to remain sedentary.<\/li>\n
  3. Keeps you mentally healthy:<\/strong>\u00a0Regular activity can also help in the reduction of depression, delay the onset of dementia and improve the overall feeling of happiness and wellbeing.<\/li>\n
  4. Helps improve your body\u2019s glucose response:<\/strong>\u00a0Even relatively low volume of simple physical activity, such as walking or cycling has been shown to induce promising effects on various metabolic markers. A study found that as little as 15\u2009min of post-meal walking can lower the glycemic response in healthy women, and in women at risk of diabetes. Researchers also found that six\u2009minutes of stair climbing and descending helps reduce postprandial (PP) glucose levels in inactive middle aged men with impaired glucose tolerance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    While we are all stuck at home, finding innovative ways to stay fit while not being able to go out is truly a challenge. The answer is really simple:<\/p>\n