Good news has been scarce in this election year. But don’t despair, movement analysts, for the benefit of movement is gaining traction in the national press!
Time magazine, for example, featured “The Exercise Cure” as its cover story in the September 12th issue. The writer notes that doctors have been advising patients to exercise for some time. But the prescription has been generic. Too much repetitive motion can be damaging, but too little movement is also unhealthy. So what kind of movement is healthy and how much exercise is “just right?”
Fortunately, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will launch a massive study next year to detail what happens inside a body in motion. According to Time, the study aims “to prove that exercise is medicine” and ultimately enable physicians to provide patients with detailed exercise plans tailored to their specific physical needs.
Current research is also encouraging, for it shows that some of the best exercise doesn’t require a gym membership. The amount of exercise recommended by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has increased to 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly and twice-weekly muscle strengthening. But quotidian activities such as walking, biking, gardening, and doing housework count. And a cheap pair of weights or resistance bands can be used for weight training.
More exotic forms of movement, like Tai Chi and Yoga, are also being touted for their health benefits. Despite the fact that the U.S. is not a dancing culture, dancing is healthy. So I hope dance will also find a place in the future of American medical practice, when exercise is prescribed with much more specificity.