What’s Stopping You?
Exercise is good for you. We all know that, it’s been a constant public health message for years, like smoking is bad for you, and you should ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ in summer. Most people even get the message that you should exercise for 30 minutes a day. But how many of us actually do it?
Australia is one of the fattest countries on earth, and getting fatter. Childhood obesity rates are increasing, and ‘lifestyle’ diseases like Type 2 diabetes are wreaking havoc on the health of not only people, but the country’s health budget. Governments publish strategies every few years, but the trends keep getting worse. So, what do we have to do to change this?
Broad-brush statements like those above are easy to agree with, but hard to know what to do with as an individual. So, I have two questions directly for you:
- Are you happy with how much you move and how you feel? And if not,
- What’s stopping you?
If the answer to question 2 is an injury, then let’s do something about it. Sports medicine physicians are expert at finding ways to rehabilitate injuries as best as possible. Sometimes this involves rest, but not for too long. Often it involves stretching, strengthening or other exercises, which can be performed with input from a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist or osteopath. It may involve other treatments such as injections, which can often be performed in the rooms. Occasionally it will require surgery, in which case a sports physician will know which surgeon is the best one to perform the operation.
If the answer is illness, lack of fitness or other limitation, a sports physician will know how to tailor an exercise program around your limits. Sports Physicians are medical specialists, and understand how illness affects exercise, and vice versa.
Or if the answer is not enough time, too much to do, I’m too tired and I can’t fit it into my life, a sports physician may just have some ideas on how to make that little bit of activity part of your day.
Are you active enough?
So what’s stopping you?
Dr Greg Harris
Sport and Exercise Physician
Ballarat OSM
