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 With the hotter summer months approaching and people keen to keep up their regular exercise routine, the question often arises ‘should you exercise indoors or outdoors in Perth?’ There are many advantages and disadvantages to exercising both indoors and outdoors. It is important that your physiotherapist designs a program for you which is adaptable all year round, through all kinds of weather.
Exercising Indoors
Temperature control: The main advantage of exercising indoors is that you will not be subject to extremes of temperature and humidity, thus allowing you to be able to exercise all year round.
Lower risk of environmental injury: When exercising indoors your environment and the equipment you use is only utilized by you and is safe and familiar, in contrast to exercising outside where you are at a higher risk of injury due to environmental factors.
Better control over your intensity level: When using indoor gym equipment such as exercise bikes, treadmills, elliptical bikes and rowing machines you have control over the speed, incline and duration of the exercise allowing you to determine the overall intensity of your exercise routine. This allows you to have a more personalized exercise routine to suit your fitness level. Many aerobic machines can also measure your heart rate which assists to determine the intensity of your workout. If you are confused as to what level your heart rate should be while exercising call us now at Central City Health Professionals, for more information.
Using indoor gym equipment also has the added advantage of lowering the stress of impact on your joints, feet, knees, hips and spine. For example, jogging outdoors on uneven terrain increases your risk of injury and stress on your joints.
Strengthens precise muscle groups: Using specific gym equipment can also help you target certain muscles in the body. For example, if you want to work on your quadriceps or biceps. This allows you to restore muscle imbalance.
Exercising Outdoors
 Getting outdoors and into the sunshine can be a motivating factor for many people when it comes to the debate ‘should you exercise indoors or outdoors in Perth’. Various forms of exercise such as walking, running, cycling, swimming and playing all forms of sport challenges and conditions your muscles. Vitamin D from sunlight also enhances your mind and body as well as being good for your skin. Always ensure you wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s harsh rays, even if it is partly cloudy.
However, if you are comparing outdoor walking to exercising on a treadmill indoors, there are a few factors to consider. Walking outdoors and on sloped sidewalks improves and challenges both your balance and stability.
Walking up steps also improves stability and strength.
 Due to the unpredictable stops and starts which can occur outdoors due to people, traffic and other environmental factors, your muscles work differently by having to stop and start from zero again. Dodging between people, children and pets also challenges your body with a side to side and forward motion.
Not All Exercise is Created Equal
Findings from a recent study published in 2011 (Thompson Coon et al), which looked into existing studies on indoor and outdoor exercises, concluded that:
“…most trials showed an improvement in mental well-being compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity and stated that they were more likely to repeat the activity at a later date.”
Results showed that people may prefer outdoor exercise to indoor exercise when it comes to improving their mental, and perhaps, even their physical state. It is important for you to know that this is where we can help you. Our health experts can create a safe and effective exercise program tailor made to suit you fitness level. We can advise you which exercises, both indoor and outdoor would suit your needs and also answer questions for you, such as which part of your body needs more physical exercise; is your heart rate at the correct level and how and when should you increase your intensity of exercise. Call Central City Health Professionals today, we are happy to answer all your questions and guide you on the right path to having the correct exercise routine both indoors and outdoors.
Your health and wellbeing is most important.
Call Central City Health Professionals Today on 08 9421 1733 today and let us show how we can help you
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