2 weeks Ago By Kevin Shelley
A popular recent lunchtime discussion among rehabilitation professionals has been our perception of a markedly increased degree of overlapping health problems and associated difficulty in returning our patients to their prior health and functional abilities. We are in the middle of a chronic disease epidemic—one where the singular-diagnosis patients of the past are being replaced by patients with multiple active major diagnoses, and where youth no longer seems to be the hedge against disease it once was. The sharply declining health being noted all around the world is a growing problem.
In many areas, there is a concerted effort underway to understand why and what we can collectively do about it. The recent appointment of Robert Kennedy Jr. to the Department of Health and Human Services has been accompanied by calls to make America healthy again—abbreviated as MAHA.
In my humble opinion, the best health you can possess and carry forward is predicated on healthy habits, among which regular exercise is “king”—hence the rajas! As such, I provide a handful of everyday-accessible exercises to help you nudge yourselves toward better health and an improved quality of life. 1. Walking 2.
Squat Jumps If lowering to 90 degrees of knee flexion is too much, lower as far as you can before rising back up. If the jump at the end of the squat is difficult, try a hop instead. If you can’t hop, try rising onto your tiptoes.
3. Jumping Jacks If your hands don’t touch overhead, just move them as high as you can. If a jumping jack is too much, try a stepping jack instead.
Step to the right with your right foot while lifting your arms, then bring your left foot over to touch the right foot. Repeat on the other side. 4.
Running in Place Can’t go very fast? Move at your own pace. Can’t lift your feet very high? Lift as high as you can and build up when you get stronger. Can’t sustain the run for a minute? Do what you can while using good form.
5. Arm Windmills 6. Ski Hops Together, these exercises can support your journey toward a stronger, healthier future and do your part to make America healthy again.
Although improving national health is important, your individual journey into the best health you can attain is the most significant contribution of all..
