The groundhogs were clearly kidding this year, because there was no early spring. For the last six months, I feel like I’ve been dashing from home to the gym to the car to the office, with the spaces in between filled with punishing sub-zero temperatures. But rejoice! The weather is finally turning. Time to transition our lives, our clothes and our activities. Spring just begs you to get out there.
But even if you’ve been active throughout the winter months, remember that one activity doesn’t equal another. Different activities engage different muscle groups. In other words, all the shovelling and skiing you did won’t prevent aches and pains from creeping up after spending the day in the garden or on your bike.
 |
| If you’ve never been active before, the warm weather is a perfect time to start. |
This week’s video provides great know-how from Suzanne Denis, an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist on how to make the transition with maximum gain and minimal pain. Denis also gives sound advice on possible red flags for injury. While pain is relative, keep this litmus test in mind: muscles aches are pretty normal when starting a new activity; joint pain is a red flag for a bigger problem. If you’ve never been active and want to start, Denis also gives you some proven techniques to stay on track. No matter your level of functioning, Denis says there is always a way to participate in being active.
Here are two great links, for under 65 and over 65, to the current fitness guidelines to help you make sense of it all. Happy spring!
