Medical Fitness Program
How can exercise improve a chronic condition?
Regular exercise can help you manage symptoms and enhance your health if you have a chronic condition.
Losing weight and enhancing heart and endurance are two benefits of aerobic exercise. For the majority of people, high-intensity interval training is normally secure and efficient, and it can be quicker. For brief periods of time, high-intensity interval training involves alternating between intensive exercise and less intense exercise. Even more intense forms of exercise like walking count.
Strengthening your muscles through strength training can increase your muscular strength and endurance, make it easier to carry out daily tasks, delay disease-related losses in muscle strength, and stabilize your joints.
Stability exercises may help lower your chance of falling, while flexibility exercises may help you have the best possible range of motion around your joints so they can work as efficiently as possible.
Heart disease
Your heart health can be enhanced by regular exercise. Recent research has demonstrated that interval training can have a major positive impact and is frequently well tolerated by those with heart disease.
Exercise can lessen your chance of dying from heart disease and halt the progression of heart disease if you have high blood pressure.
Diabetes
Exercise on a regular basis can help insulin work more efficiently to reduce your blood sugar. You can increase your energy and control your weight by engaging in physical activity. Exercise can lessen your chance of dying from heart disease if you have type 2 diabetes.
Asthma
Exercise on a regular basis helps to increase your lung capacity, or the maximum amount of oxygen your body can absorb. Exercise also promotes blood flow to the heart, which pumps oxygen throughout your body, by increasing blood flow to your lungs. Often, exercise can help control the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
Back pain
Regular low-impact aerobic exercises can help your back become stronger and more resilient while also enhancing muscular function. By bolstering the muscles surrounding your spine, abdominal and back exercises (core-strengthening activities) may help lessen symptoms.
Arthritis
Exercise can assist preserve muscular strength in the afflicted joints, lessen stiffness in the joints, and minimize pain. Additionally, it can enhance the physical well-being and quality of life of arthritis sufferers.
Cancer
Cancer survivors can benefit from exercise by becoming more fit and by improving their quality of life. Additionally, exercise can reduce the risk of dying from prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer.
Dementia.
Many professionals agree that staying physically fit can assist maintain normal blood flow to brain tissue, which can lower the chance of degeneration or damage. Studies on both animals and people have demonstrated that aerobic exercise triggers the release of growth hormones, which may also enhance brain function.
Which workouts are secure?
Your doctor may advise particular workouts to lessen discomfort or increase strength. You might also need to refrain from doing some workouts altogether or while your condition is at its worst, depending on your health. Before beginning an exercise program, you may occasionally need to speak with a medical fitness consultant or occupational therapist.
For instance, if you have low back discomfort, you can opt for low-impact cardiovascular exercises like swimming and walking. These kinds of exercises won't jar or strain your back.If you have asthma that becomes worse with activity, be sure to carry an inhaler with you.
The greatest workouts for people with arthritis vary on the type of arthritis they have and which joints are affected. Create an exercise program with the help of your physician or a physical therapist that will benefit you the most while causing the least amount of discomfort to your joints.
How often, how much and at what intensity can I safely exercise?
Before beginning an exercise program, it's crucial to discuss with your doctor how long your workouts can last and what level of intensity is safe for you, since this will give the medical fitness coach the information they need to recommend the appropriate amount of intensity.
Generally speaking, aim to engage in 30 minutes or more of physical activity every day, at least 4 days per week. Try brisk walking for around 30 minutes on most days of the week, as an example. Even better, spread out your physical exercise throughout the day in manageable time slots. Anything you do is preferable to nothing at all.
If you are unable to engage in this much activity, try your best. Physical activity of even one hour each week can be beneficial to one's health. Work your way up to moving more each day by starting with moving more and sitting less.
Start softly and increase your activity level gradually if you haven't been active recently. What sort of fitness objectives can you establish for yourself that are safe as you advance?
Do I need to take special steps before getting started?
Depending on your health, your doctor could advise taking specific safety measures before working out.
For instance, if you have diabetes, remember that exercise decreases blood sugar. Before engaging in any exercise, check your blood sugar. You might need to consume a snack before working out if you take insulin or diabetes drugs that lower blood sugar to help prevent low blood sugar.
Consider taking a warm shower before working out if you have arthritis. Before you start, heat can relax your muscles and joints and take away any pain you may be feeling. Also, be sure the shoes you choose for exercise offer stability and shock absorption.
What kind of discomfort can I expect?
Consult your doctor about any potential discomfort you may experience during or after exercise, as well as any pain-reduction strategies. Learn what types or levels of pain are likely to be typical and what can be an indication of a more serious condition.
For instance, if you have heart problems, you should stop exercising if you experience dizziness, unexpected shortness of breath, chest pain, or an irregular pulse.
Consider exercising with a friend to help you stay consistent with your regimen. Additionally, you could request that your doctor suggest an exercise regimen for persons with your condition, possibly through a nearby hospital, clinic, or health club.
Pick enjoyable activities, make attainable goals, and acknowledge your accomplishments if you want to stay motivated. Speak with our Medical Fitness Expert. Discuss with your doctor any worries you may have about your fitness regimen, from beginning it to maintaining it.