Health and sport have become a ‘fixed couple’, particularly in the past few years, since physical activity has been recognized as a basis for a healthy lifestyle.

Professor Daniela Lucini, Head of the Exercise Medicine and Functional Pathologies Section at Humanitas, talked about it during a live Facebook broadcast on Radio 24, recalling the importance of the role of the sports doctor.

Choosing the right activity

Choosing the sport that best suits us and not relying on fake news or approximate advice found on the web is the first step to respect our body and especially to obtain benefits and results, which are a simple well-being, from fitness to competitiveness. “Trying to understand what is our state of health and our level of training is the starting point – explained Prof. Lucini -: those who do physical exercise must be well aware of the objective, whether a simple pleasure and fun or an improvement in performance and it should be remembered that even those who are convinced that they are well and apparently have no discomfort must first know each other and have a consultation by the doctor”.

Check-ups to be done before dedicating oneself to sport

“Making clinical evaluations is not only useful to understand if you run risks during exercise and effort, but also to understand which physical activity is the most suitable – explained the teacher -. This does not mean, however, that those who have diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma or allergies, hernias can not do any sporting activity.

The important thing is to rely on a sports specialist – who is not simply the doctor who signs a certificate of good health – who is able to prescribe exercises “tailored, like a dress” for our characteristics.

Sport and weight

If the objective of sports activity is to lose weight, it must be remembered that exercise is not enough just as a diet is not enough: sport and diet must go hand in hand – which is why often those who have this objective as well as a sports doctor should also rely on a nutritionist -. The aim, then clarifies Professor Lucini, should not be “never lose weight, but rather optimize the mass, ie lowering the fat mass, in some areas of the body, and at the same time increase or not lose muscle mass”.

A wrong diet, for example, could lead to the loss of weight but also of muscle mass, which is essential for the metabolism, stability and strength of bones and tendons.

Physical activity and frequency: how much to exercise

“This also depends on the sport you do and the goal you set yourself – says the teacher – if the objective is simply to be healthy, all you need is the canonical 30 minutes a day, every day. If the goal is to lose weight, the slackening can reach up to one hour. Obviously you get there gradually and after receiving advice from the doctor first and then from the personal trainer”.

“If done correctly and at the right time, the exercise is like a drug,” concluded the teacher.