By Oluchi Muogbo
In the quest to promote healthy lifestyle in the country, the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapy, Lagos State chapter, has called on members of the public to embrace the attitude of going for regular medical checks as well as engaging in healthy lifestyle.

Making the call during this year’s world physiotherapy day activities held at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, spokesperson of the Society,  Mr. Ayo Oni, said regular exercise could help prevent diseases associated with overweight.

Activities such as measuring the Body Mass Index (BMI) were carried out to check for blood pressure, body fat accumulation and  a large number of people had their BMI calculated for them free-of-charge. Participants commended the effort and expressed gratitudeto the organisers for enabling them partake in the free screening exercise.  A few said they were shocked at their result moreso as it was their first time of checking.

On the significance of checking the BMI, Oni observed that the jet age had forced many to consume various kinds of foods that precipitate over weight thereby causing  obesity and high blood pressure which are deadly.

“So it is good to control what we eat and most especially exercise our body regularly to keep our BMI below 25 which is the normal for healthy living.”

Paul Ola, a protective health physiotherapist and fitness consultant, enlightened participants on the importance of physiotherapy. stating that “Physiotherapists own the manual of the human body. If you don’t consult them, you are bound to abuse your body,”

He empathised that exercises prescribed by physiotherapists are mostly needed for regulating the blood sugar level, normal functioning of the heart and lungs, strengthening of the abdominal muscles, free flow of blood through the blood vessels and the avoidance of back pains.

“Don’t wait for the doctor to refer  you to a physiotherapist before you consult one otherwise it could be too late,” he warned.