Three days in a row? The third day of the 30-day challenge (by Adam Meakins).
Check out WHO guidelines and wash your hands before and after exercising.
Author: Meike Geurtsen
The second day of the 30-day challenge (by Adam Meakins)
Check out WHO guidelines and wash your hands before and after exercising.
The first day of the 30-day challenge (by Adam Meakins)
Check out WHO guidelines and wash your hands before and after exercising.
By Adam Meakins, a Specialist Physiotherapist, as well as a qualified Strength & Conditioning Specialist in both the NHS and private practice in England. Also known as ‘The Sports Physio’.
The COVID19 virus is currently sweeping across the globe and battering the hell out of the human population. Some unfortunately become severely ill and die, some are left with long term disability, and some have other diseases go untreated.
Thankfully, most have not been severely affected by COVID19 with either a mild fever for a few days or no symptoms at all. However, despite the difference in symptoms there is no doubt this virus has affected us all in other ways forcing us to drastically change our way of living now and for the foreseeable future.
Social distancing and lockdown measures across the world mean many of us have been forced to spend extended periods in our homes unable to travel, move around, or go about our business as normal. Extended periods of time under social distancing and isolation measures has the potential to increase sedentary behaviours and risks creating further health and disability issues in our population. [1]
Maintaining levels of physical activity can be a challenge at the best of times, but even harder when unable to access facilities or equipment, especially when it comes to engaging with resistance exercise. The WHO recommends that all adults get a minimum of two sessions of resistance exercise a week [2]. This, however, is often overlooked or forgotten due to the more widely known target of 150 minutes of physical activity a week.[3]
One of my long-term goals has been, and continues to be, to promote the physiological and psychological benefits of resistance exercise with my slogan “you can’t go wrong getting strong”. At the start of the lockdown in the UK I began a ’30 Day Home Workout Challenge’ on social media posting daily videos of my own workouts done in my office/spare room.
‘You can’t go wrong getting isolation strong’
The idea was to demonstrate that simple, effective, no nonsense resistance exercise can be done in a limited space and with minimal equipment. These videos show a daily circuit of exercises that lasted about 20-30 minutes. The exercises were programmed through the challenge to equally work the upper and lower body, and focused mostly on simple push, pull, or lift movements, with some occasional light hearted fluff thrown in such as doing regular bicep curls, coz you know… curlz getz the girlz!
The dosage parameters of each session were also kept clear, simple and evidenced based, usually involving between 3-5 sets, with each exercise done to a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) level of between 8-10. My reasons for choosing RPE levels for resistance exercise is in a continued effort to get more to move away from using fixed rep ranges when prescribing or doing resistance exercise. I often find fixed rep ranges don’t allow for individual variation and often lead to under or overdosing, whereas RPE levels can simply and easily be used by all.
The idea for this 30-day challenge, and others I have done in the past is to help promote the idea that regular resistance exercise doesn’t have to be complicated or only done in gyms, with lots gadgets and gimmicks. Instead resistance exercise can be highly effective if it’s simply done regularly and is challenging and effortful.
References
[1] Chen, P et al (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): The need to maintain regular physical activity while taking precautions. Journal of Sport and Health Science. Vol 9, 2, 103-104
[2] World Health Organisation (2010) Global recommendations on physical activity for health ISBN: 9789241599979 https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/9789241599979/en/
[3] Lowe, A et al (2017). Are physiotherapists walking the walk? A global survey of physiotherapists physical activity levels. Poster Presentation at The World Congress of Physical Therapy, Cape Town, July 2 2017. Sheffield Hallam University Archive, http://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16662
Yifan Chen, Meichen Chen, Liwen Fu and Hui Wang
Taiji is an ancient Daoist philosophical term symbolizing the interaction of yin and yang, which are opposite manifestations of the same forces in nature. The dynamic interaction of yin and yang, underlying the relation and changing nature of all things, is epitomized in the famous “Taiji Diagram.”
Taiji is one types of Wushu rooted in the Daoist concepts of the interplay and necessary balance of yin and yang.
Some traditional schools claim that Taiji has a practical connection to the theories of the Song dynasty Neo-Confucianism (a conscious synthesis of Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian traditions). These schools believe that Taiji ‘s theories and practices were formulated by the Taoist monk Sanfeng Zhang in the 12th century (Wile and Douglas, 2007).
Taiji appears to have received this appellation from only around the mid of the 19th century (Hennning,1994). History records that Luchan Yang, the founder of Yang’s Taiji, trained with the Chen family for 18 years before he started to
teach the art in Beijing, which strongly suggests that his art was based on, or heavily influenced by, the Chen family art. The Chen family can trace the development of their Taiji back to Chen Wangting in the 17th century. At that time, Taiji had already developed.
Many studies report improvements in quality of life, flexibility, strength, cardiovascular function, pain, balance, and kinesthesia after learning Taiji. According to the data, Taiji is mostly performed in the form of semi-squatting, so it can improve the stability of lower limbs and delay aging. In addition, Taiji combines breathing with the body to effectively improve respiratory function. Furthermore, Taiji is a lifestyle practice, regular practice can improve immunity.
With the growing number of people remain quarantined at home, we should take exercise choosing at a rather restricted environment into consideration with an attempt to stay active and be healthy. Taiji presents its unique values in such a special period and should be introduced to the whole world. As above, we know that Taiji is not just a kind of Wushu, but way more than that.
On the one hand, Taiji is a low-cost and easily implemented exercise without facilities, which makes it easy to persist in the quarantine state. And its medical value presents in various aspects, such as memory, digestion, balance, flexibility and so on.
On the other hand, people around the world are going through a tough spell and what happened around might make you feel stressed or restricted than before. The slow movement and concentration of Taiji will guide you to find your peaceful inner heart. It is exactly the right time to do Taiji！
Here is an action demonstration of Taiji. The character in the video is Dr. Jing Liu, an associate professor from Department of Wushu and Arts, Nanjing Sport Institute, China.
Reference:
Henning, Stanley (1994). “Ignorance, Legend and Taijiquan”. Journal of the Chen Style Taijiquan Research Association of Hawaii. 2 (3). Archived from the original on 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
Lin, Z., 2016. On Chinese Tai Chi Culture: Contemporary Values and International Communication. Asian Social Science 12, p273. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v12n10p273
Wile, Douglas (2007). “Taijiquan and Taoism from Religion to Martial Art and Martial Art to Religion”. Journal of Asian Martial Arts. Via Media Publishing. 16 (4). ISSN 1057-8358.
Yang, Y., & Grubisich, S. A. (2005). Taijiquan: The art of nurturing, the science of power. Zhenwu Publications.
Yang, Y., Verkuilen, J., Rosengren, K. S., Mariani, R. A., Reed, M., Grubisich, S. A., & Woods, J. A. (2007). Effects of a Taiji and Qigong intervention on the antibody response to influenza vaccine in older adults. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 35(04), 597-607.
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Breathing Exercises
Staying healthy involves things like eating properly and staying active. At times like these it is even more important. By sticking to social distancing and quarantining at home, it is the perfect opportunity to focus on our physical activity and nutrition.
During these times, it is also important to keep our respiratory system, and more specifically, good lung function in mind. Covid-19 is a virus that can affect the respiratory system in even its mild and moderate forms. When speaking of the respiratory system, it is concerned with breathing and the lungs are the organs that enable this.
A group of breathing exercises largely adopted by physiotherapists worldwide are The Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques (ACBTs). These breathing exercises target the lungs and aim to maintain good and functional breathing capacity. This technique consists of three phases:
[throughout the exercises, it is recommended to position oneself in sitting maintaining a good posture by keeping shoulders relaxed and the neck supported].
1. Breathing Control
Breathing control helps to relax the airways which is useful for bouts of coughing or episodes of shortness of breath. This phase is best performed with the eyes closed to aid in a sensation of relaxation. This phase alone is useful to be carried out in states of fear, anxiety, and even during a panic attack. It also serves as a precursor to the following two stages if done within the cycle.
To perform this stage, the person should breath in through the nose and out of the mouth, if possible. If not, both through the mouth instead. Any tension in the body should try to be relaxed with each breath out focussing on head and shoulder placement. This phase is to be repeated at least 6 times, gradually trying to control the breathing rate with each repetition. It can be done as many times as the person feels they need to move onto the next step.
2. Deep Breathing
During this phase, focus on breathing deeply. As per the previous step, the shoulders and chest should be relaxed. A long, slow, and deep breath inwards through the nose (if possible) should be taken). The breath should then be held for 2-3 seconds before breathing out through the mouth. The breath should not be forced out. It should be gentle, like a sigh.
3. Forced Expiration
For this step, it is advised to keep a tissue nearby in case the need to cough arises. As per WHO guidelines, the cough should be directed into the tissue and immediately disposed of. This portion of the exercise aims to clear the airways. It is called a huff and involves exhaling with a certain force through an open mouth. When performing this step, it helps to imagine steaming up a mirror. To complete this phase of the cycle, a normal-sized breath should be taken to then be followed by an active, long, breath out. The sensation of the lungs should feel ‘empty’. This is to be repeated twice.
This cycle needs to be repeated for three times every time, twice daily. If symptoms develop such as shortness of breath you may perform them up to 4 times a day or as directed by a physiotherapist. The exercises can be performed by people of all ages. Should any symptoms arise of any concern, please do contact your local GP or your local Covid19 helpline.
Sources:
Active Cycle of Breathing Technique. (2020, April 7). Physiopedia, . Retrieved April 10, 2020 from https://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php?title=Active_Cycle_of_Breathing_Technique&oldid=234921.
Bronchiectasis Toolbox. (2018, June 18). The active cycle of breathing technique. Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://bronchiectasis.com.au/physiotherapy/techniques/the-active-cycle-of-breathing-technique
WHO. (n.d.). Advice for public. Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Article by Dr. Jane Walsh, Health Psychologist NUI Galway.
In the midst of the current coronavirus pandemic, we have witnessed the temporary annihilation of the global sporting events calendar. Not only have many of our target races or competitions been cancelled, we have suffered the loss of most of our social training activities and a general disruption to our normal routines.
Along with the stress many face around their health and that of their loved ones, and the mastering of new health behaviours (e.g. social distancing, increased self-hygiene), many of us have been dealt a significant blow to our motivation to train. This is further compounded by the uncertainty of the timeline, due to the unpredictability of the course of the pandemic.
So, you had a goal, and now it’s either decimated, or uncertain. What is the best approach to deal with this curveball? Here are 5 top tips from the scientific study of psychology to help us to regain our motivation.
Embrace the challenge.
In the same way as you would grit your teeth having to cycle up a steep hill, or dig in for a long run, consider this a novel challenge to both mind and body. Analyse the complexities of what it entails and begin the process of adaptation to the new circumstances. Why should you do this? Take time to consider your underlying motivation.
Reflect on your motivation(s).
Many of us have journeyed into this life of training/preparing for races for reasons that are usually based on personal goals, e.g to lose weight, get fit, get a new PB. These are what drive the ‘initiation phase’ and require disciplined focus in order to successfully change our daily routines and develop new habits.
Over time, our goals and motivations change. This is natural, as we improve and settle into routines. Reflecting on these and setting new goals regularly is important to maintain motivation and interest. However, when a change in personal circumstances arise (e.g. travel or other life events) ‘self-regulation’ becomes key to maintaining our goal focus.
Self-regulation
Self-regulation involves controlling one’s behavior and emotions in the pursuit of long-term goals. This is not just about self-control, it also involves setting goals, initiating and maintaining good habits, even in the face of a dynamic and changing environment. Key to success is the development of a flexible and adaptive mindset. This means developing an ability to adapt your goals, attitude and behavior in response to the challenges life throws at you.
Goal-Setting
So, your original goal is gone or uncertain, what’s next? Set a new one! Take some time to consider where you like to go next. View this as an excuse, an opportunity to go down a different path. With the uncertainty of the course of Covid 19, it would be particularly useful to set some shorter, medium, and longer-term goals that are flexible.
Some people will prefer to continue their normal training routine as much as possible, unperturbed by the uncertainty, viewing it as a lifestyle. For others, it may be a golden opportunity to relax a little, take the foot off the gas, and do something different for a while. This pandemic provides a unique chance to reflect, revisit and reboot. Use it!
Enjoy the process
The most important part of all of this is personal enjoyment. Whether it’s a love of the outdoors, the fun of social training (if allowed), the sense of accomplishment after a hard session, or the adrenaline rush of a race, it doesn’t matter. Let’s face it, our goals are a trick to help us drag ourselves out of bed when we would rather sleep in, to push ourselves outdoors when the weather is dreadful. At the very heart of what we do is an activity that contributes enormously to our quality of life. So, hold onto that thought during these difficult times, stay healthy and never forget how lucky we are to be able to do it!
“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”
Muhammed Ali
About the Author
Dr. Jane Walsh a keen triathlete is a lecturer in Health Psychology in NUI Galway, her research is underpinned by the theme ‘Health Behaviour for Healthy Ageing’. She is the Director of the mHealth Research Group and recently secured grants in excess of €8 million euro in EU funding to conduct research on how novel technologies can be harnessed to deliver personalised evidence-based interventions to promote healthy ageing. Jane is the Co-Leader of the Health and Wellbeing Cluster in the Whitaker Institute, a member of the Irish Cancer Society Research Advisory Board and an Associate Editor of the Journal Psychology and Health.
Jane has given several keynotes both nationally and internationally on related topics including The Physical and Psychological Benefits of Exercise and Mindset and Peak Performance in Sport.
NHS has 24 instructor-led videos across aerobics exercise, strength and resistance, and pilates and yoga categories.
The workouts have been created by fitness experts InstructorLive and range from 10 to 45 minutes. All videos contribute to achieving the 150 minutes of exercise per week, as recommended.
Do you prefer an exercise schedule? Check their Strength and Flex exercise plan
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/
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MSK NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Every day MSK NHS Ayrshire & Arran uploads short exercise videos on Facebook. No dumbells, MSK HHS Ayrshire & Arran uses water bottles and they keep their exercises simple. Our QuaranTrainers are enthusiastic, will you join them next time?
The best way to #flattenthecurve is social distancing. To slow down the spread of COVID-19, everyone needs to limit social contact as much as possible, immediately. It is only effective if enough people do it. But if we do, it could mean the difference between the life and death of someone you know.
QuaranTrain 