Activities of Daily Living
I always thought the purpose of physical training was to build strength and muscles, which are not unworthy goals. But the program I’m studying (ACE - American Council on Exercise) talks about another, and to me more important, role of physical training - the Activities of Daily Living (ADL). After all, being strong for perhaps the aesthetic of big muscles isn’t nearly as important as being able to enjoy a walk, lift kids and or grandchildren out of a car or being able to easily get your own carry-on bag in and out of the overhead bin of an airplane.
For me, physical activity has been a lifelong journey. I played a number of sports through my school years, especially enjoying long distance running and loving winters spent snow skiing and snowboarding and summers spent watersking, sailing and swimming (it seems I really like being around frozen and unfrozen water :)). And then university, followed by the professional career, years hit me hard. A sudden active life was traded for my first bout of endless hours spent studying in libraries or working in a very non physical career. The only activity I could barely hang on to was running. While I still had the years of muscle memory from my former active lifestyle, I no longer had the time to pursue them.
But, as it turned out, an active lifestyle was just around the corner. After a few years of marriage, I switched my career in accounting to that of a full-time mom. Suddenly, the active years were back in full swing…talking about activities of daily living. As I never gave up running, my days started early with a run while my two toddler sons were sleeping and before their dad left for work at 5am. Once in from my run, the day was underway. I remember that on most days the only time I sat was at our family dinner table. We didn’t have fitness trackers back then but I’m certain my daily steps were astronomical and I loved every moment of the activity.
Then my sons grew up and I moved back into the workforce and found myself at a desk again for hours on end. To add insult to injury, this work led me to write and publish two books, which meant more endless hours sitting at a writing table and computer. However, my body wasn’t as resilient to all this sitting as it was during my 20’s, the university and early career days. This time ended with some serious shoulder issues, starting with my right shoulder being frozen. Research says it’s very uncommon to then injury the other shoulder. Well, I guess this research didn’t factor in the writing of a second book, which led to a left frozen shoulder. Not a lot of fun. There was not a chance I could get my carry-on bag in and out of the overhead bin on an airplane. And this was something I needed to do as I was now traveling the globe speaking in front of audiences based on the work contained in my books.
So now I’m here and I’m pivoting. Time is not slowing down and I have a very real appreciation for being able to easily and independently accomplish the activities of daily living. I want to be able bend, lift, step, push, pull and rotate, enjoying a fully active life. So, while ‘muscles and strength’ are nice and not unimportant, I want to be easily able to get my 30lb carry-on bag in and out of the overhead bin and always enjoy a daily walk, solo or with a special little friend.