EXERCISE AND CHRONIC DIDEASE

EXERCISE AND CHRONIC DISEASE

As a clinician, I so often see people use chronic disease, pre-existing conditions or simply their age as a reason for being inactive. Individuals with osteoarthritis, chronic back pain, COPD, fibromyalgia etc. say their pain is a barrier to exercise, or they don’t have the energy.

Though it is these people that need regular exercise more than anyone.

There is a countless amount of literature summarising the benefits of exercise, but in case we needed any more evidence, BJSM (British Journal of Sports Medicine) has published a review looking at the effects of exercise therapy on those with chronic diseases.

The paper concluded that aerobic exercise, resistance training, and a combination of both:

-Are completely safe for those with chronic diseases.

-Improves functional capacity and reduces disability in those with chronic diseases.

-Should be recommended to ALL individuals with any sort of chronic disease.

(Pasanen et al., 2017)

This message needs to be spread, and people of all ages, with all types of medical histories need to be encouraged and educated about appropriate forms of physical activity. Exercise can always be tailored to suit the needs of any individual, no matter how young, old, healthy, unhealthy or otherwise they may be.

There should not be ANY practicing health professionals who do not recommend exercise as a primary intervention for these groups of people (or anyone for that matter).

Chris Bryceson

B. Health Sciences (Physio), APAM

CB Physiotherapy