By Dr. Leonard J. Somarriba, D.P.T., C.S.C.S.
On school days, young adolescents (12 to 16 years) get 55 percent of their physical activity on school grounds. But recent research suggests that’s not enough. As reported by the Los Angeles Times (“More exercise at school may be key to improving teens’ health” – December 2015), only 8 percent of students get the recommended 60 minutes of exercise per day. To make up the difference, “a typical school would need to devote 7.5 percent of its instructional time to physical fitness,” instead of the 4.8 percent found to be the average in a recent study published in Pediatrics (“Locations of Physical Activity as Assessed by GPS in Young Adolescents” – January 2016).
Making a commitment to be physically active is one of the best ways families can prevent or combat obesity and its consequences. Physical therapists support the Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines, which states:
- Children should get one hour or more of physical activity a day.
- Adults should do two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.
Physical therapists’ extensive knowledge of pre-existing conditions allows them to help people of all ages and abilities establish life-long patterns of physical activity. For those who already are obese, physical therapists can devise safe exercise programs that reduce pain, restore flexibility, and increase strength and cardiovascular endurance.
If you or someone you know needs to be more active, they should consider consulting with a doctor of physical therapy. The doctors of physical therapy at ProFysio Physical Therapy are experts in exercise prescription and exercise science.
Dr. Leonard J. Somarriba, D.P.T., C.S.C.S. is owner of ProFysio Physical Therapy, with offices at 1212 Route 34, Suite 24-25, Aberdeen, and 2124 Route 35, Holmdel. For more information, call 732-970-7882 or visit www.profysionj.com.
