ReGaining Your Innate Shape: The 10 Components of Exercise

Everyone knows that physical exercise is an essential component to good health, so why do so few do it regularly?

For one, it takes commitment and with so many demands on our time, we find excuses to put it off.  For another, if you dive headlong into working out, without awareness of your physical limitations and patterns, you can get injured.  Not only can that set you back, it also may make you hesitant about returning to the activity where injury happened.

Yet there's no doing without it and according to the Mayo Clinic, there are so many upsides in improved mood, increased energy, better sleep, and that it's one of the best investments you can make.


At Rowe Chiropractic, we believe there are 10 essential components to a well rounded exercise program:

1. Cardiovascular - any activity that increases heart rate, such as biking, running, elliptical machines, and even walking at a brisk pace will enhance your ability to process oxygen
2. Stamina - as it sounds, engaging in an activity at a steady pace for a sustained period of time (ideally, 45 minutes or longer) will improve your body's ability to process energy
3. Flexibility - stretching routines that work spine and extremities will allow safe and full range of motion in your joints
4. Strength - weight bearing routines that engage multiple joints and increase muscle's ability to create force
5. Power - pushing muscles/oxygen use to its limit as occurs in sprinting or speed lifting can enhance overall performance
6. Speed - similarly increasing level of your workout can contribute positively to both cardiovascular and neurological health
7. Coordination - activities such as playing sports not only adds a social factor to your workout but improves eye/hand/body coordination
8. Agility - karaoke drills, bosu balls, and agility ladders shorten transition times and come in handy in helping you regain balance/ prevent falls if you slip
9. Balance - speaking of balance, wobble boards, bosu balls, and diamond mats are a great way to test and build it, never forgetting that core abdominal strength is where movement should begin
10. Accuracy - lastly, don't forget fine motor movements need 'workouts' too and aim to regularly engage in activities that improve them such as drawing, knitting, or sewing

Interested in learning more?  The next Move Right workshop is scheduled for March 12 so mark it on your calendar and begin regaining your innate shape TODAY!

Wishing you health, happiness, vitality, & longevity,

Dr. David Rowe