We are all athletes

Tricia Hayton, Registered Physiotherapist
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Last week, we had a client come into our clinic and say, “I’m not sure if I can come here, I'm not an athlete.”     Our quick response was, “We are all athletes".

At Physio Sport Med our definition of athlete is: “Any person who is interested in achieving or maintaining an active lifestyle.”  

Who does this include?

The 70-year-old woman who walks her dog everyday?    Always welcome!

The 45-year-old man whose work demands lifting and walking?   You bet!

The middle age lady who is rediscovering her love of tennis now that her kids have grown?  Yes!

The young boy who just loves hockey – but can’t quite skate?  Definitely!

The young adult who wants to walk around the grocery store without painful feet? Sure thing!
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The diabetic patient who has been told to lose weight, but can’t because their legs hurt? Come on in!
 
The fact of the matter is that Exercise is Medicine. We all need to move during the day.  However, if your muscles and joints hurt, you are far more likely to be sedentary.   Getting treatment so your body moves easier is just the start to increasing your activity.   It can also be very overwhelming to start activity – especially if exercise has lead to injury in the past.    We are here to help!  Remember that every little bit helps – you may start with just walking the length of your driveway or to the mailbox.   It all counts!

For more information follow us on Facebook for our “We are all Athletes” series. 

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