Prerequisite for exercise
By Song Sang-ho
January usually starts with feelings of a new beginning. It may be because of this excitement that we can put into practice our new resolutions during this month. The commonest resolutions are about quitting smoking, going on diets, establishing exercise routines and other health related issues.
Regardless of age, health is top of the agenda for all. But it is pitiful to see that so few people are interested in the health of their joints, one of the most important parts of the human body. Joints are where bones meet and almost all parts of our body including the knees, ankles, fingers and shoulders have joints. However, many people do not pay much attention to slight pains in particular areas, maybe because they too frequently feel discomfort in these joints.
I’m talking about joints because they are deeply related to exercise. Women in their 50s or over, in particular, are prone to abdominal obesity as they approach menopause due to hormonal changes. If they don’t exercise enough during this period and fail to stay fit, excessive weight will strain their knees and other joints, and possibly lead to arthritis.
Arthritis is a very common joint disease. Approximately 80 percent of Koreans aged 60 or above have arthritis. Korean women are especially vulnerable to arthritis. Most cases are degenerative arthritis caused by cartilage that wears out as they get older. This is mainly because of the domestic chores that put serious stress on their knee joints. For instance, they wipe the floor on their knees for a long while or sit on their heels to do the laundry. Worse still is that they tend to think that the pains are natural parts of the aging process and try to withstand it for as long as possible. Degenerative arthritis in its initial stage is treated with medicine or through rehabilitative care, but it may require artificial joint surgery if it gets more serious.
Then, is exercise an answer to all of the issues regarding staying-fit and preventing arthritis? Not at all. Starting exercise without some thoughtful plan or consideration is what housewives should never do. If obese people exercise too much, they can cause further joint problems. Exercise that excessively uses joints will also cause damage and when left untreated, it can develop into arthritis. Hence, it is better to choose exercises that don’t strain the knees much, such as swimming or walking.
It’s also good to stretch regularly. Stretching plays a vital role in keeping our joints healthy as well. It is exercise that extends joints and muscles to soften the muscles and expands the range of joint movement. For these reasons, adequate stretching is essential during winter when joints become stiff. If you are suffering degenerative arthritis, stretching can help relieve the pain. Since anyone can do stretching easily without any special exercise equipment, it’s all the more useful and efficient.
Check your body health status now. If you feel your knees ache while climbing stairs or walking for a short time, if you feel sharp pain and hot flashes in your knees, or if your knees are inflexible and difficult to straighten or bend, it may be a warning sign regarding your health. Once our joints are damaged, they have long term effects, causing discomfort in daily life and even mental suffering such as depression in some cases. So we really need to pay extra attention to and care for our particular health needs.
According to a survey on New Year’s resolutions by a research agency, 40.7 percent said they practiced their new-year resolutions for less than a month. Yes, in fact, exercising too is hard to do regularly for a long time. Just do the kind of exercise you can enjoy. Getting pleasure from exercise should come before trying to lose weight or becoming healthier.
Dear housewives, bring back healthy living, which was pushed back down your priority list due to many household chores. Remember, a job begun well is a job half done.
The writer is the president of Wellton Bone & Joint Hospital.