How to Tell if You Are in Good Shape
If you are in good shape physically and health wise you can enjoy a higher quality of life and reduce the chances of chronic illness and injury. Many people think they are in good shape while others know they are very out of shape. If you are not sure whether you are in good shape or poor shape it is a good idea to pay a visit to a physical therapist that can help you to determine your health status.
A physical therapist can also help you come up with a proper health and wellness plan that is personalized to your current health and fitness level. This will get you a whole lot further than if you simply start trying to eat right and exercise and will help you to troubleshoot health problems and prevent injuries.
Your physical therapist will go through your current fitness level with you in detail so he/she can create a program that is tailored specifically to ensure you are in good shape. In addition to a detailed plan and evaluation, there are general benchmarks to any health and wellness plan that will help you to tell if you are in good shape.
How Do You Feel After You Walk Up a Flight of Stairs?
Walking up a flight of stairs is a great benchmark to use to determine if you are in good shape. If you can barely speak to someone after tackling a flight of stairs you should pay a visit to your physical therapist to resolve the issue. If you feel great after walking up a flight of stairs chances are you are in pretty good shape.
Can You Still Speak to Someone During Exercise?
If you are engaging in vigorous exercise and cannot speak to someone during the session, this is a sign you have some work ahead of you to get into good shape. It is also a sign that you are exercising too hard too soon. If you can talk to someone during your aerobic exercise session than this is a sign you are in good shape.
Do You Tend to Get Injured Easily?
If it seems like you are plagued by injury this is a sign that you are not in good shape and you should pay a visit to your physical therapist to start a strength training regimen. If you get into accidents and do not injure easily this is a sign you are in good shape. When you think about it, stunt men in movies have to be in good physical shape to perform all of the stunts they do without getting injured.
Do You Feel Tired and Drained Most of the Time?
If you are constantly tired and out of energy this is a sign you are out of shape. If you still have energy at the end of the day when others are flopping on the couch this is a sign that you are in good shape.
Does It Take You a Long Time to Recover From Exercise?
If you recover very quickly from your exercise routine you are in pretty good shape. If you are sore and exhausted for a long time after you finish exercising, you still have some work ahead of you where a physical therapist can be of tremendous benefit.
Do Your Muscles Feel Soft to the Touch?
If your muscles are firm and somewhat hard to the touch you are in good shape. If your muscles feel soft to the touch you have lost muscle mass and should pursue a strength training regimen with your physical therapist.
Is Your Weight in Line with Your Body Type?
If you are in good shape your weight will align with your body type and your age. If you are overweight and feel the toll it is taking on your body, you are not in good shape and should consider doing something about it.
These are a few ways that you can gauge whether or not you are in good shape. There are many other telltale signs you will experience when you are in good shape and when you are not. Regardless of your fitness level a physical therapist can always help you with your health and fitness goals so do not be shy about requesting their expertise and advice on some of your health concerns and issues that you want to overcome.