Lifestyle diseases and sport

How does sport and movement influence our health?
By Denise Müller, Grad. Sports Scientist

Just about everyone knows that sport and movement are important, and keep our body fit. But how much does regular movement really influence our health?

The classic diseases of prosperity in our time have made the positive influences of balanced health training and movement even more clear.

Hypertonie (high blood pressure)

With a good medically adjusted blood pressure, factors such as healthy and balanced nutrition, and regular and appropriate movement which enables controlled athletic strain on the circulatory system, play an enormous role in the treatment of high blood pressure. Scientific studies show that in preliminary stages, regular endurance sport can protect at-risk patients from suffering the disease itself. Existing high blood pressure values can also be reduced through sport, and sometimes medicines being taken can be reduced or even stopped.

Sports that can help with moderate endurance performance are jogging, swimming, Nordic walking, cycling, cross country skiing or hiking. Ball sports, such as tennis, can also have a positive effect, though these should be played moderately and without overdoing it.

Ideally the sporting activity should be carried out 3-5 times per week for at least 30 minutes, and enable a slow start before increasing duration and speed.

Osteoarthritis

When joints hurt, swell and get stiff getting them active isn’t always the first thing on your mind! But actually sport is the best medicine against emerging pains. Lack of movement is the greatest hazard for osteoarthritis.
Naturally the aforementioned moderate sports are also recommended here, to keep the body out of a vicious circle. Regular exercise of the cartilage structure in the joints stimulates the metabolism, and ensures better provision of nutrients to these structures. If the musculoskeletal system remains inactive then the muscles decrease in size, the joint capsule shrinks and every movement leads to pain.

Gentle exercise can be optimally achieved by swimming, doing aqua jogging or aqua fitness exercises, as the water buoyancy greatly reduces strain on the overall musculoskeletal system.

Type 2 diabetes

Physical activity uses sugar to bring performance up to a certain level, or keep it working. This is the principle which benefits every diabetes patient. Because when a muscle moves, in other words contracts,  it uses glucose. This is drawn from the available glucose or starch stores in the cells. If these stores are empty then the body falls back on the sugar in the blood, therefore lowering the levels. This means  that less insulin needs to be injected, medication can be reduced and even body weight can be reduced through using up of available stores.

Endurance sports such as swimming, cycling, jogging or Nordic walking rank first. Those just getting started should take it easy, and proceed moderately with the supervision of their medical professional.