The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
During the winter months, many Canadians choose to stay indoors, as the decreased hours of daylight and cold air makes getting cozy in front of the television more rewarding than going for a walk. This is a great concern for Canadian physiotherapists. "Keeping active through the winter months will help maintain your level of fitness and mobility, and help reduce the potential for muscle strains, lower back problems, and poor postural habits due to inactivity," says Sandy Rennie, President of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA). "It will also help maintain your overall health." Winter can be an excellent time of year to stay active and maintain fitness. There are a variety of winter activities that provide solid strengthening and a good cardiovascular work out. Depending on your location, you can ski, skate, snowboard, snow shoe or go sledding. And both walking and running are 'all season' sports! For those who don't like the cold but want to stay active, there are many indoor options. There are a range of fitness centres that offer individual or group programs that are geared to your needs; Many local pools have 'aqua fitness' programs for all ages, and community recreation facilities offer a variety of programs that promote cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength; and 'Housework- outs' are a great way to maintain mobility Ð so include your weekly clean up in your overall plan to stay active in winter! Staying active and mobile during the winter months can significantly maintain and improve physical and emotional health. It doesn't take long to lose many of the benefits of fitness gained during the warmer months. For the greatest overall health benefits, experts suggest 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise three or more times per week plus muscle strengthening activity and stretching twice a week. One factor to consider in winter workouts is the risk of hypothermia Ð a drop in the core body temperature Ð so dress appropriately.
