The New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) says
the latest research shows that staying active helps reduce
the effects of Covid-19 infection and calls on Kiwis to look
after their physical wellbeing and mental health during the
winter months.
A new study of almost 50,000 patients
with COVID-19 published in the British Journal of Sports
Medicine[1] found that physical inactivity is associated
with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. NZCA
spokesperson Dr Jenna Duehr, chiropractor explains: ‘The
researchers say that consistently meeting physical activity
guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for
severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected
adults.’
According to the NZCA this study is the
latest in a growing number of research findings reinforcing
the importance of exercise and spinal function in protecting
health longer term. A meta-analysis of 22 international
longitudinal studies published in JAMA Pediatrics[2]
revealed a decrease of 17 minutes per day in children’s
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from pre-pandemic to
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further research
confirms that increased exercise improves the outcomes of
other
healthcare interventions by improving the body’s
ability to repair itself. A paper in the
British Journal
of Sports Medicine looking at cancer patients who underwent
a structured “prehabilitation” exercise programme while they
were undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed tumour
shrinkage[3] compared to a control group of patients who did
not exercise.
Another piece of research published in
the British Medical Journal shows that just an extra 20
minutes of physical activity a day among older people halves
their risk of heart disease[4].
Dr Duehr explains:
`We don’t even have to do that much exercise to make a
difference. A study in JAMA Internal Medicine[5] shows that
If most people added just 10 extra minutes of walking, or
some other kind of moderate physical activity every day we
could help prevent thousands of deaths each
year..
The Straighten Up NZ website https://www.straightenup.org.nz/
has a range of exercises to promote movement and spinal
health, which can be done at home. In addition, the ‘Just
Start Walking’ initiative by the World Federation of
Chiropractic is an easy-to-use program to help encourage
regular physical activity, developed to raise awareness
about the importance of keeping active and the benefits this
can offer to your overall well-being. Dr Duehr also
recommends boosting vitamin D levels by getting outside (or
supplement, if required, during winter), supporting the
immune system with quality vitamin C and zinc supplements,
maintaining good hydration, staying positive and by
exercising so that the heart rate is raised and endorphins
are generated.
Chiropractors are regulated primary
health care professionals registered under the HPCA Act with
close to 700 annual practicing certificate holders working
in solo, group, and multidisciplinary clinics around New
Zealand. New Zealand chiropractors have significant training
(a minimum 5-year tertiary degree) and a broad yet highly
skilled scope of practice and clinical expertise.
New
Zealand’s chiropractors are taking the lead to inform and
inspire people to improve their health and prevent pain and
disability by educating the public to have a greater
understanding of the relationship between their spine and
nervous system and how this affects their function and
overall well-being.
[1] https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/19/1099
[2]
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2794075
[3]
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/25/bjsports-2021-104243
[4]
https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/16/heartjnl-2021-320013
[5]
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2788473
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