Exercising with lupus
For anyone living with Lupus, it is extremely important to know how to live your everyday life, which includes exercise.
There are ways that you can take back control when you are dealing with chronic pain, joint aches, and inflammation, exercise. As well as pain management related to lupus, regular exercise is important for good sleeping habits, maintaining energy levels, keeping a healthy body weight, and increasing bone density.
It may seem a hard and daunting task to undertake exercise when you are experiencing painful symptoms related to lupus, but engaging in simple, gentle exercises with regular breaks can be the key to giving yourself a positive outlook and incorporating it into your everyday life.
The key ingredient is to enjoy the kind of exercise you do, as this means you are more than likely to do it more. Gardening can provide a form of gentle exercise you can undertake for as long as you feel comfortable doing it. You must make sure you aren’t putting any strain on any particular joints or muscles, and always wear protection from the sun on a hot day.
Pilates has seen a surge in recognition and popularity over the last few decades. Combining the movements of yoga and gymnastics, pilates focuses on the technique and breathing involved in each activity. The key is not quantity of movements, but the quality of the movement. You slowly build strength in deliberate, slow movements which can significantly improve muscle strength, bone density, flexibility, and overall health. These can directly help the symptoms of Lupus, reducing muscle and joint pain, and keeping weight loss or gain in check.
Aerobics exercise is classed as anything that raises your heart rate and gets you slightly out of breath, which of course, can vary from person to person. If jogging gets you out of breathe and stopping every thirty seconds, then it might be the right choice for you. Instead, try a fast-paced walk to get your heart rate up. Listen to music to keep you motivated. Aerobic exercise is proven to prevent fatigue, raise energy levels, and help improve sleeping habits, all of which make living with lupus that little bit easier.
Lifting weights can be done by anyone and best of all it can be done anywhere. This may mean using dumbbells at the gym after your workout, or it can mean picking up a bag of sugar or can of soup while watching TV in your living room. Engaging in slow, repetitive movement that work on the muscles can increase your strength and your bone density. Another advantage to lifting weights is that it increases your energy levels and blood circulation, which can fight the fatigue people with lupus often experience.
As with any exercise you choose to undertake when you have lupus, it is important to know your limits. Choosing an exercise that you enjoy or get pleasure from is a good idea, because you feel comfortable doing it. Even if you’re not a fan of exercise, it’s important not to push your body, as this can have an adverse effect. Take regular breaks, drink water, and most importantly, begin slowly.
This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.