This spring has been very different for a lot of us. We’ve likely missed out on some of our favorite activities. For me it’s baseball. I miss being out on the baseball field teaching kids how to play a game that I love. Like many of you, I’ve tried to find something new to fill that void and come up with a new physical activity.

As nicer weather approaches and we return to activities like hiking, running, walking, and golfing, it is good to remember to prepare your body for these activities physically. How many times have we raked the yard for the first time in the spring or have returned to some of our favorite activities only to experience pain the next day? And, how many times does that turn into pain for the next month?

Preparing your body to handle your favorite activity is important. Here are a few exercises that you can easily fit into your day. You can perform a sit to stand during commercial breaks if you are watching TV or at the end of a chapter if you are reading a book. It’s as easy as it sounds, scoot forward in the seat and use your legs to stand up. You can use your arms to help if needed, but if you can, try to use just your legs. Try 10 repetitions, if that is easy you can add more reps. If it is too difficult, start with fewer repetitions. This exercise helps to build strength in your thigh and buttock muscles.

Another exercise that is easy to add into your day is a step up. Find the stairs in your house, just use the bottom step, and step up and down from that step. Try 10 repetitions with the same leg and then repeat with your other leg. Use the railing as needed for balance. Again, with this exercise you can either add or reduce repetitions to meet your needs.

Walking is another good exercise and it doesn’t have to be a planned 20-30 minute walk, although those can be very beneficial. How many times have you sat down to watch your favorite show and it turned into sitting for three hours or more? This is very common during football season. An easy way to get more movement in is to get up during commercial breaks and walk around the house until the show or game is back on.

The key to staying healthy and returning to your normal activities is to keep moving. Getting active and staying active is easier for some than it is for others, particularly if pain is involved. If you feel like you’re a lifelong member of the Low Back Pain Club, you’ve likely found a lot of exercises that you’ve tried that made you feel worse. You are not alone. That’s because one size doesn’t fit all. For instance, have you ever talked to a friend or neighbor about a great exercise that has helped them only to find out that it caused you more pain?

We are fortunate here in the town of Gorham and the surrounding communities to have good access to a number of health and fitness professionals. There are several gyms/fitness centers, physical therapy clinics, chiropractic offices, and other alternatives. Those professionals can help you through your aches and pains to enable you to return to your favorite activities. Often, when caught early, you will only need a little help. Other times if you’ve put it off for a while, you might need more guidance or treatment.

We all have different techniques and philosophies. One thing we do have in common, we’re all here to help. Whatever your favorite activities are, I hope you can return to them soon. We could all use more physical activity in our lives to help improve our health and reduce our stress.