Here are our top 4 reasons why you NEED to focus on your health and fitness during the COVID 19 outbreak.
As an Exercise Physiologist, a lot of the clientele that we work with are individuals with chronic health conditions. We work with people of all ages and different ability levels. Although we understand that the current COVID-19 outbreak is a new and confusing time for a lot of people, we know that completing regular exercise is as important than ever at the moment. The team are doing everything that they can to ensure that you are exercising in a safe environment and want you to continue to be as active as possible during this time.
- Exercise can enhance immune competency. Leading an active lifestyle can reduce the incidence of communicable (bacterial and viral infections) and non-communicable diseases (cancer). This means that being active can help you to fight off infection, as well as work to keep you healthy.
- Exercise is good for your mental health. Due to the large amount of information that we receive daily through the news or social media, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and anxious about the effects of COVID-19. It’s important now for us to focus on keeping our minds clear and free from panic. Going for a walk outdoors is a great way to clear the mind and connect with nature.
- Exercise helps to improve other health conditions. You may have been seeing your exercise physiologist help with other health conditions: diabetes, heart disease, obesity, injury or neurological conditions. Improving these health conditions is still important during this time and shouldn’t be neglected because of COVID-19. Ensure that you are still eating well to help manage your diabetes and completing a regular exercise to improve your heart condition. Being self-isolated doesn’t mean that you can’t exercise at all, you are still able to do your exercise program at home or exercise outdoors.
- Our focus is on improving your health conditions. We want you to continue with improving your health as you have been, so are taking every step to allow you to do this. If you are nervous about attending the gym or your exercise physiology sessions, rest assured that we are taking all necessary steps to maintain the cleanliness of the facilities. We are cleaning down all equipment regularly and have disinfectant wipes, hand sanitiser and soaps available for you to use. If you are self-isolated we can help you to do your exercises or update your program from home, we can organise video or phone calls or online consults so that we can still help you.
We also encourage clients to bring their own towels into the gym and to stay at home if they are feeling any cold-like symptoms, including fever, dry cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath. It is important that you consider your own health if you are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms and refrain from exercise. For a summary of symptoms click on the link: COVID 19
If you have any questions, the team are more than happy to help you. You can contact us via the following phone numbers: Bellarine/Torquay Sports Medicine Centre on 5251 5724, Lachlan Whiting on 0400 942 415, Jess Henderson on 0451 790 005or myself on 0409 541 91. We’ll continue to keep you active, healthy and happy, wherever that may be.