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We’re all well aware that exercise does a body good. It helps us lose weight and can ease arthritis pain. While those two benefits alone are enough to motivate some to hit the gym, there are several more reasons that exercising can change your life from the inside out. We’ve collected 7 perhaps unexpected but nonetheless life-changing health benefits of exercising.

It boosts your immune system.

This one is well documented by several studies. Regular exercise helps your body both prevent illness and fight it off when it’s unavoidable.

You enjoy better concentration and energy.

According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, people who exercised were able to put more uninterrupted focus into what they were doing than non-exercisers.

New skills stick better.

A study by University of Copenhagen showed that working out for 15 minutes immediately after learning a new skill greatly improved participant’s ability to retain that skill over time.

Your memory is sharper.

A study published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) showed that the hippocampus (the “memory gateway” in the brain) was 2% larger in participants that walked for 40 minutes three times a week for a year as opposed to those who had not exercised.

You’ll sleep more soundly.

Regular exercise helps your body fall asleep faster and more soundly. Just make sure you don’t exercise too close to bedtime. The extra energy from your workout may keep you up!

It prevents back pain.

By strengthening the muscles in your core, back, neck, and shoulders, you safeguard yourself against most types of back pain.

It can add 5 years to your life.

Here’s a benefit of exercise you simply can’t ignore. According to the National Health Research Institute in Taiwan, a study of over 400,000 people suggested that just 30 minutes of activity each day can prolong your life by 5 years.

So whether you want to lose weight, rid yourself of back pain, learn a new skill, or all of the above, exercise can help you feel great and reach your goals.

If you’re suffering from back pain, please request an appointment online or give Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine a call at 904-825-0540.

Casey McClone, MD
Board Certifications in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. Dr. McClone specializes in treating musculoskeletal pain for patients of all ages with ultra-sound guided injections.

 

Sina Kasraeian, MD 
Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has extensive training in arthroscopy and sports medicine reconstructive procedures.