By: Damaris Ababio, Physical Therapist Assistant, MSCS
It improves your physical and mental performance and...drum roll!! It’s not a pill? If you guessed exercise, you are right on track! Exercise is now being labeled the new medication. Oftentimes, I’ve worked along with a physical therapist to treat patients who are referred to physical therapy for conditioning, also known as exercise.
Why is there so much emphasis on exercise now more than ever? This is because research has proven that exercise not only improves your physical health but also your mental health and cognition. Exercise changes the brain to protect things like memory and thinking skills. A research study conducted at the University of British Columbia found that consistent aerobic exercise that gets your blood pumping and sweat glands pouring boost the size of your hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that’s responsible for verbal memory and learning. Resistance training, balance and muscle toning exercises did not have the same effect on the hippocampus.
This finding is especially crucial considering the fact that we live during a time when dementia is detected in someone every 4 seconds and researchers estimate that by the year 2050, more than 115 million people will be diagnosed with dementia worldwide.
Now let’s discuss how exercise improves brain health and function. When a person exercises vigorously, this creates a chain reaction in the body and improves its ability to reduce insulin resistance, inflammation and stimulates the release of growth factors which are chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of blood vessels and the survival of new brain cells. Exercise also improves mood, sleep, reduces stress and anxiety which have a direct effect on one’s cognitive abilities.
So why don’t you give this new medication a try! After getting the green light from your doctor, try to incorporate things like walking, swimming, tennis, stair climbing or even dancing into your day to day routine. Standard recommendations advise half an hour of moderate physical activity most days of the week or up to 150 minutes a week. If this is not attainable for you, set a goal for yourself and start with a few minutes a day and gradually increase the amount of time you exercise by 5 or 10 minutes every week until you reach your desired goal.
Before you go, I just want you to think about this, have you ever wondered why water left in a jar or cup develops an odor after a while but lakes, rivers and streams never do? This is because rivers, lakes and streams flow consistently and never stay still, the same applies to our bodies and brain, if we keep our body moving we will remain healthy from the inside out.
References:
Harvard Health Blog- Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
Bio:
Damaris Ababio is a Physical Therapist Assistant at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center. She treats patients with neurological and orthopedic conditions as well as balance and gait deficits. Damaris completed her education at Essex County Community College in May, 2011 and has been working at the ACC since October, 2011. Damaris is currently a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist (2018) and an LSVT BIG certified therapist (2020). She also serves as a member of the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Professionals and the American Physical Therapy Association. When she’s not working, Damaris enjoys spending time with her family, participating in philanthropic work or carrying out a DIY project.
The Saint Barnabas Medical Center Rehabilitation centers are open and ready to help you achieve your goals. With four locations in West Orange, Millburn and Livingston, the experienced and compassionate staff at Saint Barnabas Rehabilitation offers adults and children the specialized care they need to resume an active life after surgery, injury or illness. They are committed to providing patients with the most advanced services in a safe, caring and soothing environment. For high-risk patients who are unable to visit in person, telehealth is an option. Patients do not need a prescription for physical therapy services