Movement Is Medicine. And Probably More Powerful Than You Think.

Author: Jessie Podolak, Clinical and Community Resources Director

There’s a saying in physical therapy that we love:

Motion is lotion.

It’s not exactly Shakespeare, but it’s true. Movement makes life better.

If you’ve ever been laid up with a sprained ankle, an episode of back pain, or an illness that kept you on the couch, you know how quickly you start appreciating the simple things.

Walking across the room. Going up the stairs. Getting outside. Carrying groceries. Doing the things you love without wondering whether your body will cooperate.

And when your mobility comes back?

Sweet relief! You vow never to take it for granted again.

But movement does much more than help us function.

Movement Is Whole-Body Medicine

When we move, virtually every system in the body gets the message.

Your brain benefits. Physical activity supports memory, attention, learning, and long-term brain health.

Your mood benefits. Movement can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and help regulate stress.

Your metabolism benefits. Working muscles use glucose for fuel, and regular movement improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic health.

Your heart and blood vessels benefit. Physical activity strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves circulation, and can help lower blood pressure.

Your bones and muscles benefit. Loading the body helps maintain strength, bone density, balance, and independence as we age.

Your immune system benefits. Regular moderate activity supports healthy immune function and helps regulate inflammation.

Even sleep, sexual health, energy, and overall quality of life are influenced by how much—and in what ways—we move.

And here’s something I find especially fascinating:

Muscle isn’t just something that makes us stronger.

It’s an active organ.

When muscles contract, they release signaling molecules called myokines that communicate with tissues throughout the body. In other words, when you move, your muscles aren’t just moving your skeleton.

They’re sending messages.

From head to toe, our bodies were designed to respond to movement.

But There’s a Catch

If movement is medicine—in the best sense of the word—we need to think about it the way we would any other medicine.

The type matters.
The dose matters.
And the person taking it matters.

There is no single “best” form of movement for everyone.

Running might make one person feel alive and another wonder what terrible life choices brought them to this moment.

One person loves the gym. Another would rather hike, garden, dance, swim, bike, do yoga, walk with a friend, or chase a toddler around the backyard.

It all counts.

The best movement plan isn’t necessarily the one that looks most impressive on paper.

It’s the one you’ll actually do.

What’s Your Starting Dose?

We often hear recommendations for how much exercise we should be getting. Those guidelines are valuable—but they aren’t always the best place to begin.

Your starting point is where you are today.

If you’re walking ten minutes a day, you don’t need to suddenly train for a 10K. Maybe your next dose is twelve minutes.

If you haven’t strength trained in years, your first step doesn’t need to be an intimidating gym membership. Maybe it’s five minutes of simple exercises at home.

And if you’re already active, perhaps your next step is adding something your body isn’t getting enough of, like strength, mobility, balance, intensity, or recovery.

So instead of asking only:

How much exercise should I be doing?

Try asking:

How do I like to move?
Where am I starting?
What would I like my body to be able to do?

Then choose something meaningful, fun, or simply intriguing enough to try.

Movement is medicine—just not the kind that comes in a bottle. It’s medicine that can take you outside, connect you with people you love, strengthen, protect, restore, and build resilience.

So find your kind of movement. Start where you are. Build from there. Your whole body will get the message.