Some people exercise to lose weight. Some exercise to gain muscle. Some even exercise as a form of therapy, because, well, endorphins.

No matter the reason for lacing up your sneakers and engaging in a sweat sesh of any kind, one thing is for certain; what exercise does for you internally, far outweighs all it does for you externally.

Here’s the thing – our society has conditioned us to associate exercise with looking good on the outside. The extremely aesthetic world we live in screams “exercise to fit into those jeans,” rather than focusing on the more powerful benefits of exercise…

… How you feel on the inside.

At Dr. Gena Chiropractic, a leading family chiropractor in Plantation, Florida, we are constantly urging our patients to get up and move. No one understands the benefits of exercise quite like a chiropractor, who’s entire life is centered around a healthy spine. “Exercise (or movement) is what we are designed to do. It releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and helps pump oxygen and nutrients into the muscles and vessels of our body. Exercising does not have to be a big event like going to the gym, rather simply that you are MOVING your body more than you are sitting throughout the day,” Dr. Gena suggests.

So why are top chiropractors like Dr. Gena urging patients to get physical?

For those aches and pains

Lower back pain can be a real drag. Maybe it’s from sitting at your desk all day, or maybe your form on the golf course could use a little work. No matter what is putting the strain on your lower back, a stronger core can help. Sure, exercising while you’re in pain may seem counter-productive, but in truth, it’s nothing but productive.

According to research from this article in Health.com, “Strengthening your core can improve your posture and balance and take your workouts to the next level, but it can also help ease back pain and prevent further injury or strain. Because your core supports your spine, strong abdominal muscles take the pressure off your back and help align your spine.”

Great core exercises include:

• Planks
• Stability ball exercises
• Yoga

To avoid injury

Our bodies take quite a beating every day, even though we may not realize it. From the overloaded purses we carry, to the bags of groceries we lug in at the end of the day, even the baby balancing on your hip – our bodies do so much more than we give them credit for. But all that we do puts us at risk for injury. Exercises can certainly help with this. Strengthening the extensor muscles and stretching the flexors help strengthen back muscles, the ones we use more in “pull” movements, therefore helping avoid injury.

Great exercises for extensors include:

• Band-assisted chin ups and pull ups (if you're not already able to lift your own body weight)
• Seated rows
• Lat pulldowns

For mental clarity

All of the benefits listed above are great, but if you’re not feeling your best mentally, you’ll never feel your best physically. We tossed the word “endorphins” around earlier, because to us, the rush of these feel-good chemicals that our body experiences during exercise works wonders psychologically. According to a study published by WebMD, “people who exercise regularly benefit with a positive boost in mood and lower rates of depression.” Additionally, “endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as "euphoric." That feeling, known as a "runner's high," can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.”

So, the next time you feel the urge to move, remember how much good your exercise endeavors are doing for you internally, as well as externally. 

For more information or to visit Dr. Gena Chiropractic, located just minutes west of Fort Lauderdale, contact us today!

Remember, your health is in your hands, but our hands are here to help.