5 Benefits to Exercising with a Partner
Leave a CommentGetting started working out or staying motivated to your routine can often be challenging. Having a partner or friend can help. Let’s take a look at the benefits of working out with a partner or friend.
1. Improved Mood
Exercise has been linked to improved mood and happiness. Socializing with friends has also been shown to improve mental health. Combining exercise and socialization is a great way to also boost mood, and decrease anxiety, stress, and depression.1
2. Safety
Depending on the type of workouts, having a buddy can keep you safe. A partner can help spot during weight training. They can also point out any errors in movement when working out. There’s also safety in numbers when you’re out on a run. A partner can help keep you safe and possibly prevent injury.
3. Motivation to Try New Things
A workout partner can give you new ideas for your workouts. Sometimes we can get stuck in a rut doing the same routines but new things are often less intimidating with a friend. Your partner may also give you the motivation to perform better than working out solo by pushing you to try new things or perform a more intense workout.
4. Keep to a Schedule
Having another person depend on you to show up for a workout will help you stick to your schedule. This can motivate you to stick to your routine. You can make a plan for the two of you based on your goals, then plan out your workout schedule together. A study in 2015 also showed that when a romantic partner made a health-related change, the other was more likely to follow suit.2 If you both are committed to exercising regularly, it increased the odds that you both will be successful when done together.
5. It’s Fun
Exercising by yourself can get lonely but with a partner you can share the good and tough times. You can cheer each other on and give encouragement during those difficult workout days. You’ll smile more, possibly laugh, and share the feeling of accomplishment after a good workout. You can also keep each other focused on your workouts and avoid distractions such as scrolling on your phones since you have someone to talk to during those rest breaks!
Physical Therapy Can Keep You Moving
If you experience pain or a previous injury is keeping you from being active, contact our clinics for a Free Assessment. Our experts will evaluate your condition and provide you with a recommended option for treatment to get you back to the activities you love. Free Assessments are available in-clinic and virtually through our Telehealth platform.
The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.
References:
1. Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Polenakovic M, Bosevski M, Apostolopoulos V. Exercise and mental health. Maturitas. 2017;106:48-56.
2. Jackson SE, Steptoe A, Wardle J. The influence of partner’s behavior on health behavior change: the english longitudinal study of ageing. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(3):385.
