A chronic condition lasts longer – at least a year – and may affect many aspects of your daily life, as it may cause pain, a low mood, mobility issues, and exhaustion. For this reason, you might want to avoid exercise at all costs, but regular exercise could potentially ease symptoms and help you live a happier, healthier life.
However, you mustn’t rush into exercise, as your body might have specific limitations you will need to consider. Read the following tips on how to start exercising with a chronic health condition.
1. Discuss an Exercise Plan with a Doctor
Before you start exercising, it’s crucial to talk to a doctor about a workout to avoid damaging your health. If you push yourself too hard, you could cause an unwanted flare-up that could set you back.
Organize a same-day appointment with a private doctor at TapGP for medical attention and general advice. An experienced doctor can help you develop a suitable exercise routine for your specific health needs to prevent injury or health repercussions.
2. Start Slow When Starting an Exercise
It is wise to start slow when incorporating exercise into your lifestyle. If you have a chronic illness, you might experience dizziness, fatigue, or confusion after a small amount of physical activity.
Try not to push your body too hard during exercise to avoid placing undue stress on your body. Also, it might help to have a loved one close by should you happen to go beyond your limits.
3. Find a Gentle Exercise
It might help to introduce one or more gentle exercises to protect your body each day. For instance, a doctor might recommend the following physical activities:
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Pilates
- An exercise bike
- Walking
Think carefully about the best gentle exercise for your health needs and personality, as it will encourage you to incorporate more physical activity into your daily life.
4. Follow a Flexible Fitness Schedule
Many chronic conditions are unpredictable. One day you might feel healthy, and the next, you might experience a painful flare-up that impairs your mobility, mood, and energy levels.
For this reason, you might not have the motivation or energy to exercise during these days, or you might struggle to perform workouts in the consistent same manner. For this reason, you must follow a flexible fitness plan to adapt to your needs. For example, you might need to perform gentle stretches over cardio or embrace strength training over a fitness class.
5. Stop Exercising When Necessary
If you feel tired, exhausted, breathless, or experience pain when exercising, you must stop right away to avoid an injury or flare-up. Listen to your body when working out or you might spend more days on the sofa than on your yoga mat.
Also, specific signs might indicate you need to take a rest day or reduce the intensity of exercise, such as fatigue or pain after a workout. If in doubt, talk to your doctor about the signs of pushing yourself too hard during physical activity.
