MINOT—Dawn Mattern, MD, medical director of Trinity Health Sports Medicine, will host Minot’s annual Doc Walk Wednesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. in Oak Park. People of all ages and fitness levels are welcome to participate.
The walk serves as the kick off to Exercise is Medicine Month, an awareness drive that focuses on regular physical activity as a key ingredient in preventing and treating disease.
“Exercise is the miracle pill,” Dr. Mattern said. “It helps in the prevention of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, depression, anxiety and several cancers.”
Exercise can involve most any activity – walking the dog, working in the garden, raking leaves, shoveling snow, riding a bike, stretching, dancing, weightlifting, running or playing games. “I recommend more – more often during the day, more than yesterday. Always strive to find more ways to move,” Mattern said.
Current physical activity guidelines encourage 150 minutes of moderate activity a week for adults and 60 minutes daily for children. Health benefits start within the first 15 minutes, so starting is the most beneficial. To be most effective, activities should include both strengthening and aerobic movement.
