“The benefits of regular exercise are numerous,” says Dr. Marci Goolsby, Primary Sports Medicine Physician. “Regular exercise helps to improve energy and sleep, prevent age-related issues, and guard against heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer.”
Starting a new exercise program, whether you’re changing up your tried and true routine or taking your first steps toward getting fit, can be confusing.
Dr. Goolsby recommends these tips for those who want to kick off the new season with an updated fitness plan:
- The most important thing about starting a new exercise program is to do it safely and to make a commitment.
- Patients who are older and more sedentary, particularly if they have medical problems such as diabetes, heart disease, pulmonary (lung) disease should discuss starting a program with their physician.
- There are 5 components to consider when starting an exercise program: cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, body composition, and balance and agility.
- Set aside a specific time each day for exercise. Depending upon your schedule and lifestyle, this could be first thing in the morning, participating in a class, or exercise with a friend.
- Don’t forget that exercise can be fun so try to think of it as a treat, not a chore.
Dr. Marci Goolsby is a primary sports medicine physician in the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery. She trained at the University of California Los Angeles, where she served as team physician for the UCLA women’s basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball teams. She has also served as an event physician at marathons and triathlons. Her main areas of clinical and research interest are stress fractures and the Female Athlete Triad. As a prior collegiate basketball player, Dr. Goolsby also has a special interest in the care of basketball players. She is a consulting team physician for the New York Liberty.
Reviewed on March 28, 2018.
