Help me find out this information

[Jean in Newcastle]

Please forgive me for not having the right vocabulary for asking this. (If I did, I could just google for the answer myself). But what is the optimal kind and amount of body usage?  We know that being too sedentary is bad. But there was a thread here recently about people in trades ruining backs and knees from overuse. So it seems like you can “use up” your body?  So is there an optimal amount of activity level and types of activity to keep your body “young “ and in tip top shape?  

[scholastica]

There was a TedX talk by James O'Keefe called "Run for your life. At a comfortable pace and not too far." It addresses overuse of the heart (he's a cardiologist.) It was really interesting. I think the same can be applied to overuse of muscles, bones and joints, as well. Personally, everything I've read and watched has caused me to conclude that moderate cardio every day, stretching of some kind every day and strength training a few times per week are the key ingredients to physical well-being. That and a diet that is based on real, whole foods, mostly plants. It seems our culture never ceases to create new idols for itself and right now, one of the ones I see is worship of the body and being "in shape", regardless of whether what one is doing to stay in shape is part of a balanced life or not.

[ashfern]

I read somewhere 30 minutes of cardio or 90 minutes of walking per day. I think that the people in trades who ruin their joints are because of repetitive, non-functional activities. Thinking specifically of carpet installers. They are on their knees a lot and the carpet stretcher with the force they hit it with their knee. That's going to be hard on their knees, hips, & backs.

[Jean in Newcastle]

What makes movement functional?  I thought that functionality was good?  Wouldn’t the movement in trades be functional by virtue of helping them do a job?  Is it the repetitiveness that’s bad?  

[KathyBC]

Your body is going to wear out, whether it is from being sedentary or whether from overuse. Avoid either extreme, for sure, but IMO there is no optimal plan to avoid aging.
Typed as she headed out for a walk and then a Yoga session on YouTube to keep herself in some sort of shape as long as possible

[gardenmom5]

7 hours ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

Please forgive me for not having the right vocabulary for asking this. (If I did, I could just google for the answer myself). But what is the optimal kind and amount of body usage?  We know that being too sedentary is bad. But there was a thread here recently about people in trades ruining backs and knees from overuse. So it seems like you can “use up” your body?  So is there an optimal amount of activity level and types of activity to keep your body “young “ and in tip top shape?  

pretty sure "ruining backs and knees" is more about repeated improper lifting of too heavy items.

I also saw an article recently about how female distance runners are less likely to injure their acls if they're on hormonal BC. - so, hormones...

yoga - I've seen a number of very old women yogis, who took it up in middle age, and are very fit and active at 90.

[TABmom]

I read a book called Younger Next Year awhile ago. I think it addresses some of these questions.

[GailV]

19 minutes ago, kand said:

You might like the book “Move Your DNA” by Katy Bowman. She addresses these kind of questions. 

Katy Bowman is the queen of the functional movement discussion. Aside from her several books, she has a website, an instagram account, a podcast, and a large following of people who discuss this concept all over the internet (and, ideally, in your actual real life community).  You can join the online party here: Build Your Movement-Rich Life    or check out her books (and some other media) here: Build Your Exercise Program

From there you'll discover all sorts of other people with blogs, podcasts, and general inspiration.

I have most of her books.  At the moment I'm sort of partial to Dynamic Aging -- maybe I'm feeling old now that the kids are out of the house.

 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Thanks for the help.   No one is after immortality.   I do find these questions very interesting. 

[Ausmumof3]

12 hours ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

What makes movement functional?  I thought that functionality was good?  Wouldn’t the movement in trades be functional by virtue of helping them do a job?  Is it the repetitiveness that’s bad?  

I think it’s the constant ness.  Like 8 plus hours a day of the same physical movements.  Plus for all the lifting education etc there’s always pressure to just get a job finished somewhere sometime that makes people take shortcuts.

the move to specialisation isn’t helpful for the human body.  We are all meant to do some physical work and some thinking not be divided into thinkers and workers.

its totally unscientific but I like the Chinese medicine body clock that floats around.  It has suggested times for peak physical activity (morning till around 3 pm with a break for lunch/nap if needed) and then times for mental work.  From my very little reading it seems like division between mental and physical labour is really a big concept.

Edited May 5, 2019 by Ausmumof3

[Pawz4me]

19 hours ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

What makes movement functional?  I thought that functionality was good?  Wouldn’t the movement in trades be functional by virtue of helping them do a job?  Is it the repetitiveness that’s bad?  

My understanding is that functional movements are movements that relate to the things we need to do for activities of daily living. So reaching up is a functional movement because we need to reach things in cabinets and on shelves. Squatting is a functional movement because sitting on a chair or toilet is an ADL, as is picking things up off the floor or ground. Installing carpet is a job, not an ADL. And yes, I think it's the repetitiveness that's bad. Probably very bad.

I agree with @KathyBC -- avoiding extremes is likely the best. That's what the healthiest, longest lived people I've known have seemed to do. They had active daily lives, but they didn't do repetitive type labor for hours on end most days of the week, nor did (do) any of them do formal exercise. They've been people whose jobs or lifestyles kept them moving a lot in non-stressful, non repetitive ways. They've been (and continue to be) doers rather than sitters. My MIL is almost 85 and is still very healthy and very active. But she doesn't normally sit for more than an hour or so at a time. She'll go for a walk, find something to clean or some yard work to do, etc. That's how all the healthiest older people I know have been. Of course their genes no doubt played a big part, too.

Edited May 5, 2019 by Pawz4me