Designed For Movement

Janelle Klein MSN, ARNP

You are designed for movement!  Equipped with 206 bones for levers, over 656 contractible muscles and about 4000 tendons, the human can twist, turn, push, pull, grasp, lift and release.  No man-made device can rival the mobility, dexterity and precision combined in the package called- humankind. 

Even more amazing are the benefits that come from your mobility.  Did you know that just 30 minutes of daily exercise can significantly reduce the incidence of colon[1],[2], breast, endometrial, kidney, and esophageal cancers[3]?  In one study researchers found that an hour of walking every day resulted in a 24% decreased risk of obesity and a 34% decreased risk of diabetes.[4] 

In Britain researchers concluded that "moderate regular exercise should be considered a viable means of treating depression and anxiety and improving mental well-being in the general public."[5]  Perhaps some of what helps to improve mood is the pain relieving properties of exercise. People who were in pain from arthritis actually found that moving those hurting joints resulted in decreased pain.[6]  Now there is a surprise which makes it easier to keep moving.

Think of what you can do with movement.  You can cook a meal for your family, rake the leaves and yard clippings from your lawn, you can walk to your mailbox and collect your mail.  You can write a letter to let someone know you care.  You can drive a car down the road.  You can board a plane to take a vacation.  If you don't think too much about these simple things, just ask a quadriplegic or someone who is bed bound how much doing these things mean to them.  Mobility is a treasure we often take for granted. Invest in movement today!

Click HERE for another article about how to keep your cartilage in good condition!

Click HERE to read an article for encouragement to exercise, called Lessons From A Pig.

[1] Lee I, Oguma Y. Physical activity. In: Schottenfeld D, Fraumeni JF, editors. Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.

[2] Wolin, KY, Yan, Y1, Colditz, GA, & Lee, I-M, (2009)  Physical activity and colon cancer prevention: a meta-analysis.  British Journal of Cancer (1-6)

[3] http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/5d17e03e-b39f-4b40-a214-e9e9099c4220/Cancer%20and%20the%20Environment.pdf  Retrieved on October 3, 2012

[4] JAMA 2003 April 9:289(14):1785-91

[5] Public Health Nutrition / Volume2 / Supplement3a / March 1999, pp 411-418.

[6] Arthritis Rheum 2004 May 50(5):1501-10