Why sport is good for health?
According to statistics from the Ministry of Sports, in 2010, 65% of French people aged 15 and over said they had practiced one or more physical or sports activities (APS) at least once a week over the past twelve months. However, it is considered that today two-thirds of French people are sedentary.
A sedentary lifestyle, and lack of physical activity, are considered the fourth risk factor for death in the world.
Especially since it is often associated with other risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, or obesity.
Hence the importance of practicing a sport or making a few simple efforts to put our body to the test...which only requires this to function well. We have always been told: "sport is health! And it is true since the practice of physical activity is beneficial, in particular for:
– The heart and the cardiovascular system (hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc.);
– Breathing;
– The skeleton (bones and functional health);
– Muscle mass and weight control;
– Prevention of breast, uterine, and colon cancer;
– Maintaining and improving reflexes;
– Morale (and the brain);
- Live healthily.
So many reasons to move a little, especially when you know that it would suffice daily about thirty minutes of sustained activity to feel real benefits and significantly limit many risks of disease.
Playing sports is good for your health, but modern society does less and less of it. According to the data, 38% of people aged 20 and over said they do not participate in sports or other forms of physical activity in their daily lives.
On the one hand, as the Ministry of Health points out, this is due to the development of automation, even in domestic work, and the social depreciation of manual labor, on the other hand, the dominance of motorized transport, to the reduction of space and safety for pedestrians and cyclists, to free play areas for children, to role models for parents and to the weight attributed to motor activity in the school curriculum.
Yet low physical activity several scientific studies now confirm the health benefits of sports:
It improves glucose tolerance and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.
prevents hypercholesterolemia and hypertension and reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels
reduces the risk of developing heart disease and various cancers, such as colon and breast cancer
reduces the risk of premature death, including heart attack and other heart diseases
prevent and reduce osteoporosis and the risk of fractures as well as musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. back pain)
Reduces symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression
prevents, especially in children and young people, risky behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diets, and violent attitudes promote psychological well-being through the development of self-esteem and autonomy, and facilitate the management of anxiety and stressful situations
produces energy expenditure and reduces the risk of obesity.
Why avoid a sedentary lifestyle?
Physical inactivity is the worst enemy of health, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. According to the World Health Organization, physical activity is defined as “any effort exerted by the musculoskeletal system that results in greater energy consumption than at rest”.
A broad definition that includes, in addition to sports activities, even simple daily movements. You don't have to be an athlete.
Daily activity, even minimal, is enough to break the sedentary lifestyle and have beneficial effects. You will find on this site a whole lot of sports to do in Bordeaux.
It is enough to reach 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day:
Travel by bike or on foot to go to work or do the shopping, thus avoiding the car on each trip
a walk in the park
use the stairs instead of the elevator
devote to household chores
think of useful little tips, like getting off the bus at the first stop if you are traveling by bus
With the practice of regular physical activity, the heart becomes stronger and more resistant to fatigue. Aerobic activity increases the body's oxygen demand and the workload of the heart and lungs, making circulation more efficient. A trained heart pumps more blood without expending additional energy: 10 fewer heartbeats per minute means a saving of 5,256,000 beats per year.
Sport and disability, between therapy and rehabilitation
Physical activity is an important deterrent to avoiding serious illnesses and staying fit and healthy. However, sport also becomes important in case of physical disability. The resumption of circulation and post-traumatic rehabilitation activities are essential to regain autonomy and quality of life compatible with his condition.
Sport as a rehabilitation activity. As a stimulus “to do”, “to socialize”, and “to gain confidence”
Many sports can be practiced today, even in handicapped situations. From wheelchair basketball to sitting volleyball, from sailing to skiing and handy biking. The aids, on the one hand, make it possible to adapt the equipment, and the therapeutic paths, on the other hand, are offered in the rehabilitation centers as a structured activity.
Sport in early rehabilitation plays a very important role: in the first case, it is an additional motivation to return to everyday life, in the other case, it helps to develop residual motor skills.
Measurable results, with positive feedback on the sport's ability to stimulate movements and the good determination to do, in some cases difficult (or longer) to obtain with traditional gymnastic exercises, have been recorded in various centers that practice sport in structured courses.
Sport in the rehabilitation phase is based on the recreational method, which is very motivating for some patients, to the point that there are cases of people who, precisely during a sporting activity, were able to make movements that seemed to them impossible. Not all patients can be offered a sports discipline, each case is unique and must be assessed based on clinical conditions, patient history, needs, and real possibilities of adaptation.
Today, we talk a lot about sports therapy, but we must not fall into clichés. The activity is re-educational, motor, and cognitive and does not train the Paralympic athlete, but helps the patient to manage their mobility in the best possible way. The patient tries it in a protected environment, with facilities that are gradually reduced, then moves outside, slowly testing that it is possible to practice this discipline every day, even when returning home.
Socialization is another fundamental element of sports therapy. The group is in itself motivating. The activation of a course including sports therapy is indeed a complex program, which must involve several professionals: the physiotherapist, the occupational therapist, the doctor, and the psychologist.
Summary of the health benefits of sport:
Strengthens muscles and joints. With improvements also in posture and resistance to daily fatigue. Good abdominal and back muscles less the chances the risk of spinal diseases: hernias and lumbosciatalgia;
Optimizes metabolism. It improves the space between fat mass and lean mass, regulates the feeling of hunger, and balances the chemical parameters of the blood;
It increases the capacity and elasticity of the respiratory system, even at rest, due to the increased demand for oxygenation to which
How to start exercising?
Of course, you can't invent an athlete overnight, and not everyone has the time and energy to be able to dedicate themselves to a sporting activity with a lot of commitment; on the other hand, for those who have never done sports, it is necessary to "start step by step", without tiring the heart, the muscles, and the spine with excessive or prolonged exercise, which is absolutely counterproductive.
Modern life has accustomed us to a series of conveniences (the car, the elevator, the metro, etc.) that have deprived us of the possibility of even making a small physical movement: a few flights of stairs or a short stretch of road on foot brings benefits not only to our body, perhaps after a long day at the office, but also to our psyche.
Indeed, the practice of sport relieves the tension accumulated throughout the day, brings well-being to the whole body, and, after the effort, induces a pleasant feeling of relaxation, which has beneficial effects on mood, social life, and night's rest.
How often should I exercise?
As for the frequency of sports practice, there is no precise rule, but once or twice a week is necessary.
According to the WHO, which deals with the prevention, you must practice at least 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity (such as walking), at least five days a week, and at least 20 minutes for at least three days a week. strenuous physical activity, such as running, swimming, or calisthenics.
Conclusion;
However, everything must be regulated at your own pace and gradually: you can start by preferring the stairs to the elevator, taking the dog out more often, or getting off the bus one stop earlier and walking a little. Normal daily activities may well be the pretext for doing some physical exercise.
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