Bill McLaughlin, M.A., A.T.,C.
Bill McLaughlin is the NATA certified athletic trainer at Gloucester City Junior-Senior High School and can be reached at [email protected]
The weather is improving and everyone is ready to get outside and make the most of it. Whether you are trying out that new Christmas bike or those new running shoes, Spring is the time of year to get into action. This is especially true for the kids who will join sports leagues and play until the sun goes down. However, this may not hold true for those over thirty who have not exercised since their senior year of high school.
Nothing gets people into action more than that extra fifty pounds that they acquired into young and middle adulthood. Caution must be taken for the newly active adult. Throwing oneself into an exercise regimen without having a thorough physical done by their family physician can lead to more harm than good. One of the biggest problems emergency rooms face is the \”new exercise program\” that didn\’t bother to get a checkup and is admitted for chest pain of unknown origin.
It is important to let your doctor know your specific intentions and goals as well as the means you are pursuing to reach them. Let him or her know about any surgeries or injuries that you may have sustained since the last time you were active on a regular basis. Also, if an immediate family member was hospitalized for chest pain, shortness of breath or any other potential serious cardio-pulmonary condition. If you do smoke, it is essential that you tell your physician since anyone who begins an exercise program and still smokes is making a huge mistake.
I equate this to \”running behind a bus\”. You are better served getting into a smoking cessation program first. A good physician will evaluate your current vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, lung capacity), draw blood and urine (\”labs\”) as well as possibly suggest a stress test for individuals who present with higher risk factors like hypertension and diabetes. Keeping an honest an open dialogue with your doctor can insure a better and safer program that you are more likely to stick with.
If you are overweight and concerned about obesity, make sure you inquire about physician supervised eating programs or investigate programs that you may get for little or no cost through your insurance. This can even save you money when you join a gym. More good numbers!
Finally, once you begin your program, make sure you stop immediately if you begin to experience pain or shortness of breath. Report these symptoms to your doctor immediately. Enjoy the weather!
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