BEST MEDICINE: Experts say exercise boosts both mind, body
Exercise during the coronavirus pandemic can be good for the mind and body.
“Really, exercise is medicine,” said Sandra Ihlenfeld, director of the Butler County Family YMCA.
Ihlenfeld holds a bachelor's degree in exercise science and a master's degree in disease prevention and health promotion. She said children should be physically active for one hour every day.
“They learn better. They sleep better,” she said. “It feels good.”
On Thursday, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale hosted Michelle Carter, director of content and programs for Shape America, to talk about how the pandemic could affect children's' health and physical education.“As a general issue, childhood obesity is a growing problem across the United States,” said DePasquale during Thursday's livestream.DePasquale said his concerns have grown as the pandemic has continued to isolate children from athletic and exercise opportunities.According to Thursday's report by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Butler County added five cases of COVID-19. The county now has a total of 678 confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began. The county's death toll stands at 17.
Carter said ahead of a school year that will likely result in remote learning, physical educators are trying to figure out ways to keep children in shape through an online platform.“I'm seeing health and physical education teachers are working so hard right now to adapt and to pivot,” Carter said. “It's just a new challenge in how to do that.”Carter said the hardest part will be breaking children away from the idea that isolation needs to be done inside where children are already spending a lot of time.“We're fighting those big societal changes,” Carter said. “We're trying to teach the value of physical activity.”Ihlenfeld said the Butler County Family YMCA is offering multiple ways for children and adults to stay healthy.Through its day care program for children ages 6 months to 5 years, all children have access to the gym, swimming and numerous activities offered by the state-licensed child care staff.Ihlenfeld said for children older than age 5, there's day camp. She said about 200 children per day participate in day camp at one of four locations.Ihlenfeld said adults are also expected to get in at least 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes per day of cardio. The county's locations have all adapted to the needs of the pandemic to be distant from one another.“Our wellness centers are busy. Our pools are busy,” she said. “We set up the same guidelines, so they feel safe in the building, but it has returned to them a feeling of well-being.”The YMCA is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
