Cog Wheels of Brain Health: Physical Exercise and Purposeful Movement

The first article in this series was an introduction to the eight essential CogWheels of total health and wellness. This article will address the first of those vital CogWheels, physical activity and purposeful movement. It takes well-planned, specific activities addressed in a combinatorial approach (Patterson, 2019) to gain and then sustain brain and body wellness.

The “combinatorial” approach has two implications that are pertinent to total brain and body health. Exercise and movement are essential but must be complemented with effort to address the other CogWheels as well. We must engage in a combination of different types of physical exercise and movement (aerobic, strength, flexibility, posture, balance) to get the full benefit. Activities that combine multiple types of physical activities are the most efficient. Because our bodies are amazing even a small amount of change for good, will provide immediate results.

What is really amazing is that we can choose an activity to work on a specific region of our body. For example, muscle strengthening, no matter our age, will produce increased muscle strength and size while also increasing the efficient use of oxygen. Walking increases stamina and endurance and decreases excess body fat. These activities notably reduce blood glucose and A1C levels while benefiting blood pressure. A key point of the combinatorial approach is that the body works as an integrated system and, consequently, we need to exercise the full range of muscles in our body.

Coordinated hand movements are fine motor skills repeated in activities such as feeding ourselves, playing an instrument, needlework, cooking, using a writing implement, brushing our teeth, buttoning a shirt, or putting on makeup. Gross motor skills also show immediate benefit from targeted activities such as walking, running, moving from sitting to standing, moving from a bed to wheelchair, or on and off the commode. In short, the success of every activity of daily living (ADL’s), whether large or small is sustained or enhanced by well planned, meaningful and focused activity.

A large portion of the brain is devoted to movement. So, physical exercise and purposeful movement stimulates portions of the brain that are devoted to movement. Whether a master or novice, engaging in activity immediately benefits the brain function of both fine and gross motor skills.

Science has proven activity to be of great benefit. Research has also proven that inactivity is a deficit.

[“Science and experience have proven a core truth about human health and wellbeing – the more we move the healthier we stay and the better we feel.”] With the constant changes in health care, it is vital that we take charge of our own aging to plan our best decade yet. In the words of MINDRAMP founders and coaches, Michael Patterson and Roger Anunsen, “Our bodies are made for meaningful action. Action is life! Body and brain cannot remain healthy and effective unless they are stimulated by purposeful movement. Beware of the sedentary life.”

For more information about the CogWheels of Brain Health, contact Pam Redline at pam@brainbuilderpros.com or call her at (405) 888-0502. Please feel free to text “COGWHEELS” to the same number.