What is a Healthy Lifestyle?

Remember to use common sense. Each one of us has a certain limit. Judge your limits on a scale of 1 to 10. For example, 1 is relaxing on a Sunday reading the newspaper, 5 is carrying groceries, 7 is carrying groceries and walking up the stairs at a fast pace and finally, 10 is a maximum effort, where your heart races faster than ever before.

In general, never push yourself beyond a 6 or a 7, especially if you have a prior injury or are recovering from surgery or another acute condition. You should keep your muscles, joints and bones in a controlled state of motion. Never resign yourself to the couch or think that “exercise is not for me”. The BEST way to recover from an injury is to stay active and maintain your fitness level.

Make sure your muscles are properly strengthened and stretched under the supervision of your Physical Therapist. It is common for sprains and strains to occur, as a direct result of tight or weak muscles. At Parkland Physical Therapy, we conduct a comprehensive musculoskeletal evaluation to identify the areas that need to be addressed by you.