With summer sports winding down, and the weather starting to snap cold, I wanted to start a series about the importance of staying outside this fall. In the next couple of weeks I will be discussing some common injuries I see in the office from my patients that hunt, hike and fish and ways that you can prevent them. I will also be discussing and demonstrating proper movements to make you the most efficient athlete as possible while your performing your outdoor activities.

WEEK 1: Rx: Get Outdoors

As hunting season kicks off middle of September, I'm letting you know it is definitely okay to use the term "doctors orders", week one's tip is to simply just get outdoors in any capacity.

By getting ourselves involved in an outdoor activity such as hunting, fishing or hiking this fall we increase our overall physical activity. Increased physical activity provides a plethora of positive physiological effects. Clinical studies have strongly supported the fact that exposure to green space has a positive impact on our health and overall well-being.

Some of the blanketed positive effects include (but are not limited to) increased lung health, decreased blood pressure, increased focus, increased immunity, increased joint mobility, increased vitamin D intake and weight loss. One study also demonstrated that children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had increased focus when placed in a natural setting. I believe that each and everyone and one of us and our could benefit from a couple of those positive effects. 

Keep posted for week two next Friday.