It’s National Nutrition Month and exercise is an important aspect of being healthy. Exercise is important because it can prevent you from getting sick, help you sleep better, increase blood circulation and muscle mass, and give you more energy. It helps with mobility, strength, and endurance too.
“Exercising at home is a great way for caregivers and clients to bond. It’s also a great way to stay energized, healthy, and avoid loss of muscle mass,” said JEVS at Home’s Nurse, Kim McIlhenny.
Here are a few tips to keep you moving at home:
- Walk or run in place: If you cannot get outside, walking or running in place is a great alternative option that has the same health benefits.
- Squats: With the help of your caregiver, lean against the wall or hold your arms out and work your legs by squatting up and down.
- Yoga Ball: Sitting on a yoga ball will help strengthen your back and allow you to sit up straight. It’s also great for ab exercises and to bounce around on.
- Free Weights: Dumbbells ranging from 5lbs to 10lbs are great for working out your arms and shoulder muscles.
- Lift & Stretch: For bedbound clients, muscle fatigue is common. To avoid this from happening, caregivers can assist them by lifting, bending, and stretching their arms, legs, and torso a few times.
More importantly, take your time doing these exercises and have fun!
For questions or comments, please contact Nurse Kim at Kimberly.McIlhenny@jevsathome.org.
