Why should I exercise if I already have a physically active job?

It is likely that how active you are outside of your job determines how well-equipped you are to be durable during occupational demands. Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between occupational injury and physical activity performed outside of work. This makes sense – If the only physical activity that you do is the activity that you do at your job, then your body will become accustomed to the workload imposed on you during work. If you sit all workday, your body will become really good at sitting for 8 hours a day and no more. If you lift things all workday, your body will get really good at lifting things for 8 hours a day and no more. But what happens if you end up needing to lift a little bit more than usual? Or if you get sick and lose a little bit of strength? Or lose sleep for a couple of nights and get worn down? It is easy how any change in your routine could cause your body to become overloaded which may result in injuries and subsequent pain. However, if you are able to layer on physical activity outside of work, you will likely become less prone to injury because you have a “buffer” of workload that your body will become accustomed to that will not be exceeded during your workday. Learn how to safely incorporate exercises that will optimize your longevity and allow you to perform job-related tasks well into the future.