Functional Fitness: Should you talk to a doctor first?
Functional exercises focus on movements that mimic daily activities, helping to enhance overall fitness and maintain independence. Starting a functional exercise program can be a great way to improve strength, balance, mobility, and to help make everyday tasks easier and safer. But the last thing you want to do when starting any exercise program is to risk your health.
That's why it's important to consult with a doctor when starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven't been active recently or if you have a significant health issue such as diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, balance problems, stroke or neurological problems, musculoskeletal problems, recent surgery, an injury, or a chronic health condition.
One resource called The Get Active Questionnaire from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology can help you determine whether you should talk to your doctor before embarking on, or ramping up, any exercise program. You can find it here.
If you do need to speak to a doctor, it may be helpful to bring or email descriptions of the exercises that you plan to do and ask if you can safely undertake them. Your doctor may feel your selections are fine or might wish to modify certain moves.
Here are some specific questions to ask your doctor:
Are there any exercises I should avoid?If you have osteoporosis, for example, you want to avoid any activities and exercises that require you to bend or twist your spine. These could increase your risk of compression fractures in your spine.
Do I need to adjust any of my medications?If you have diabetes, a talk with your doctor is a must. Exercise requires glucose, so it may affect the dose of medication you need and may even affect the timing of your doses. Always keep quickly digested carbohydrates, such as glucose tablets, with you when you exercise in case of a steep drop in blood sugar.
If you have heart disease, be aware that some drugs used to treat the condition can affect you when you're exercising. For example, they might make you more prone to dizziness from an unexpected drop in blood pressure.
If necessary, your doctor can refer you to a physiatrist (a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation), a physical therapist, or an-other specialist for evaluation. These professionals can tailor an exercise prescription to your specific needs if you're recovering from surgery or injuries. They can also tell you whether certain types of exercises will be helpful or harmful given your situation.
For more information on staying active as you age, make everyday tasks easier, and even improve your game, check out Discovering Functional Fitness: Exercise, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.
Image: fizkes/Getty Images
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
