Can physical work replace exercise?

People who work hard physically often believe that there is no need for extra exercise. They think that the exercise they do during their job is sufficient. Unfortunately, they are wrong. Often, physical work consists of stereotype movements and unilateral strain on the body. This is the case where the job requires a kneeling or bucked position for hours. This of course is quite strenuous for the back and the knees, even if the worker takes care to maintain a correct and spine friendly posture when lifting loads.

This is why, for people who are exposed to such unilateral strains, it is of great importance to follow a complementary training. If for example the impact is mainly on the back, it is strongly recommended to train the abdominal muscles to balance the body.

Maintaining healthy joints can be assisted by joint-friendly training activities such as swimming, Nordic walking, stretching and Pilates amongst others.

Like always it is of great importance to follow a healthy diet, rich in vitamins and minerals. This helps at the same time to prevent overweight which is well-known for having an extremely bad impact on the joints.