Re-Opening Your Fitness Plan
As New York begins to focus on re-opening safely, we at NY Foot Health want to explore what that means in relation to your fitness activities. Hopefully, you were able to maintain some level of physical activity during the period of self-isolation. The chances are that your regular exercise routine was disrupted. How do you safely re-enter a fitness plan? Below some points to consider:
What are your options and preferences? Certainly, we won’t be going back to crowded gyms and fitness classes anytime soon. There may be limited participation available, but if that’s your exercise mode of choice, you may need to consider supplementing with online classes at home as well. It may be a good time to try something new. Many people are turning to running and walking programs because they allow for safe social distancing and can be done outside.
What are your goals? Are you just trying to stay in good physical condition, lose weight, or keep up training for a particular sport? Determine the specific types of exercise (aerobic, weight training, etc.) you need, and then work out a program that meets your goals. It’s a good idea to create a schedule for your workouts to help your new fitness routine become a well-established habit.
What’s your current level of physical fitness? Be honest. If you’ve spent most of the shutdown sitting at a home office desk or on the couch binge-watching Netflix series, you’ll need a gradual re-entry into exercise. Start slowly and spend a week or two, just walking and doing some basic stretching and conditioning. Gradually increase speed, duration, and intensity to avoid injuries like shin splints and Achilles tendonitis.
· What chronic or pre-existing foot and ankle conditions are you dealing with? Do you have plantar fasciitis or weak ankles? Be particularly sensitive to exercises that may put excessive pressure on vulnerable areas. If you start to experience new or increased foot or ankle pain, contact your podiatrist for telemedicine or in-person consultation. Don’t have a podiatrist? Use our online directory to help you find one in your area. For more information on common podiatric problems, contact us.