The Importance of Rest Days

The Importance of Rest Days.

I spend much of my time talking to clients about the importance of exercise. It is definitely important for virtually all aspects of your health. Before I tell you that rest days are good, here are some reminders of the benefits of exercise.

• Reduced risk of heart disease
• Better metabolism – weight loss
• Lower cholesterol levels
• Reduced risk of diabetes
• Reduced risk of cancer (especially breast and bowel)
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduced risk of osteoporosis
• Stronger bones
• Stronger muscles
• Better posture
• Fewer aches and pains
• Reduced risk of falls – improved balance
• Better energy levels
• Better mood
• Improved sleep quality
• Reduced risk of dementia
• Lower risk of early death by 30%

 

So as you can see, exercise is good. Moving your body promotes health. 

BUT…

In the last few weeks in the clinic, I have had a few clients who I have had to talk to about rest days. If you exercise and push your body physically hard regularly, then you need rest days.

The benefits of a rest day include:

• Allows time for recovery. When using muscles in exercise you can create microtears in the muscles and this needs time to heal.
• Prevents muscle fatigue. Exercise depletes your muscles’ glycogen levels. If these stores aren’t replaced, you’ll experience fatigue. The rest time allows for the restoration of glycogen levels.
• Reduces risk of injuries. When muscles are fatigued you are more likely to lose form and injure yourself.
• Better performance.

Signs that you need a rest day include:

• Persistent muscle aches and pains
• Fatigue that limits the ability to finish a workout
• A continued feeling of fatigue following the workout
• Needing to binge eat following a workout
• Repetitive injuries

A typical rest day doesn’t mean you need to lounge on the couch all day. In fact, as long as you are not injured I would suggest an active rest day.

But what does an active rest day look like? 

It means NO gym sessions or HIIT sessions or sprint sessions, or anything that pushes you to your limits.  You can go for a walk and please ensure you get up each hour to stretch your joints.

How often should you have a complete rest day? You should have a complete rest day at least once every 7 – 10 days. If you work out a specific muscle group (like an upper body workout) then you want to rest that area the next day, but you could work out a different muscle group area (like legs).

If you are resting but still pulling up sore each day, it may be time for a chiropractic adjustment. Remember when your spine is misaligned the causes neurological interference. When your brain and body are not clearly communicating the is a higher risk of injuries and reduced ability to heal and repair. So, improve the benefits of your rest day by adding chiropractic adjustments to your health care routine.

How to Make an Appointment

You can book online for a free 15-minute chiropractic discovery call. You can ask any questions you might have and find out if chiropractic may be able to help your shoulder pain. Or you can book online as a new chiropractic client.

As a chiropractor and nutritionist, I see patients daily that breakthrough aches and pains and reverse the signs of ageing joints with chiropractic care. With help, they can turn their life around to a happier, healthier version of themselves. Make yourself a priority today, and get back to living life at your best.