Carrying A Load Correctly Can Strengthen The Body
By Tom Herrin
It is well known that carrying something improperly can do serious damage. As a matter of fact, a pretty common cause of back injuries is lifting or carrying something in the wrong way. It can lead to problems that may haunt a person for quite some time without effective treatment. For someone looking for some good exercise that can do a lot to strengthen the entire body, carrying a backpack can do the trick. The thing is that it must be planned. Becoming a backpacker can do wonders for the skeletal muscles as well as the cardiovascular system.
It Can Be A Great Cardiovascular Workout
Most backpacking is done in varied terrain. Even minor hills and valleys can work both the heart and circulatory system. It works much the same as ascending and descending stairs. Most people are familiar with this. The pace can be changed to increase or decrease the amount of stress and exercise. One good thing is that when tired, a person can stop and rest in place if necessary. Sometimes pacing can help in conditioning. One time in the mountains, we were doing quite a bit of climbing so we decided to walk 100 paces and then rest in place while standing. We would do this, then every 400 paces, we would take off our backpacks and sit down for a while. It gave us chance to avoid overdoing it.
It Is An Opportunity to Burn Calories And Lose Some Weight
Provided that someone is following a healthy diet, backpacking can be a good opportunity to burn a lot of calories in a short period of time. It can be very effective. This can make it an integral part of a good weight loss and conditioning program. Burning calories in this way is surprisingly more productive than everyday walking.
It Can Relieve Stress
Backpacking can have a great effect on mental and emotional well-being. Most of the time, it will be done in a location where there is some kind of scenery. Nothing can clear the mind like the open air and majestic views. Nature has a generally soothing effect on people. Backpacking can actually have a similar effect as many meditation activities. Whether alone, which should not be done in isolated places, or in a group, backpacking can provide an opportunity to really clear the mind. You don’t have to be in great shape, but you must be able to walk some distance. If you are ready for a new challenge that can inspire while working the body, try backpacking even with a small backpack. You will love the feeling and the results.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.