posted
I have read a few things about aerobic exercise possibly suppressing T-Cells, but I've also seen people using exercise to help them through this.
I've been doing regular aerobic exercise for the last several months, though my fatigue is hard to deal with, and I just thought I was really really out of shape. If it's not good for fighting infection though, I would think I should probably stop for a while until this is resolved.
-------------------- Lyme, Bart, possible Babs Currently on IV Doxy, Bactrim, Zithromax, Nystatin, Mepron Been on nearly every antibiotic since 10/09
posted
Please read the Dr. B treatment guidelines at www.ilads.org
He talks about aerobic exercise being bad at least in the beginning. He says you should wait till your stamina allows for it.
I worked out all through treatment, but I did weights, stretching and some walking. You have to work out, but no cardio.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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massman
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Any thoughts on how much a mini-rebounder might help if not used for aerobics ?
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Keebler
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- massman,
mini-rebounder? EXCELLENT, if (as you say NOT aerobic use). But is is best to check with one's LLMD first.
Just standing on the rebounder (mini-trampoline) and gently bouncing, not even lifting feet from the mat - can be of tremendous help to circulate lymph tissue.
Lymph only circulates from exercise, warm baths or massage. It does not have its own circulation system so it has to be physically worked. The mini-rebounder is great, so is LOW heat FAR infrared sauna. The rebounder is less expensive by far, and also has other benefits to the body.
As one starts getting better and can increase exercise, the feet can come off the mat in incremental steps - as one's LLMD advises.
However, for some with vestibular issues - or especially with brain inflammation - this may not be safe.
For anyone with inner/middle ear or balance issues, if this makes you feel worse, stop. For some with vestibular disorders, the bouncing can be detrimental. If it's a matter of just getting used to it bit by bit that is one thing. Listen to your body.
While gentle bouncing may help some sorts of vertigo, pushing harder (even what would appear to be gentle bouncing) is not a good idea with certain kinds of inner/middle ear involvement. It can cause more damage and long set-backs, depending upon what is going on. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
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posted
-
Airex Balance Pad is also an option. Its a very dense (non-odor) closed cell foam pad.
Amazon has a few choices. I can't do a mini-trampoline due to inner ear stuff. However, I can very gently bounce on this to help circulation and strength - and for balance exercises.
It's not as much fun as a trampoline but it has benefit.
posted
If doing aerobic exercise doesn't not wipe you out the next day, then it should be alright. If you are wiped out the next day, then it's too much and you should stick to weights and yoga like activity. If you do aerobic, don't do it every day because even if you feel good it does suppress your tcells. Make sure you have scheduled rest days. Moderation and be very careful not to overdo it.
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Keebler
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- The thing with aerobic exercise is that, with some active infections, it can be dangerous for the heart and create a stage for the infection replicate faster. See Bruno excerpt below. Remember that many lyme patients have multiple infections. The abx may be covering some of the bacteria, but there are often still viruses at work.
If exercise comes with a hang-over of a sorts or pay-back or knock-out punch later that day - or the next - that is a clue. While it felt so great at the time, I've been knocked out for months after pushing the limits, trying to live for the moment.
Also to consider is that some patients just do better than others. Some really are exercise intolerant for serious physiological reasons, or the infection(s) affect them more deeply.
Treatment Guidelines, 16h edition, October, 2008 Joseph J. Burrascano, Jr., M.D.
Page 20:
. . .
If treatment can be continued long term, then a remarkable degree of recovery is possible.
However, attention must be paid to all treatment modalities for such a recovery - not only antibiotics, but rehab and exercise programs, nutritional supplements, enforced rest, low carbohydrate, high fiber diets, attention to food sensitivities, avoidance of stress, abstinence from caffeine and alcohol, and absolutely no immunosuppressants, even local doses of steroids (intra-articular injections, for example). . . . .
Page 31: . . .
LYME DISEASE REHABILITATION
Despite antibiotic treatments, patients will NOT return to normal unless they exercise, so therefore an aggressive rehab program is absolutely necessary. It is a fact that a properly executed exercise program can actually go beyond the antibiotics in helping to clear the symptoms and to maintain a remission.
Although the scientific basis for the benefits of exercises is not known, there are several reasonable theories.
It is known that Bb will die if exposed to all but the tiniest oxygen concentrations. If an aggressive exercise program can increase tissue perfusion and oxygen levels, then this may play a role in what is being seen.
Also, during aggressive exercise, the core body temperature can rise above 102 degrees; it is known that B. burgdorferi is very heat sensitive. Perhaps it is the added tissue oxygenation, or higher body temperature, or the combination that weakens the Lyme Borrelia, and allows the antibiotics and our defenses to be more effective.
Regular exercise-related movements can help mobilize lymph and enhance circulation. In addition,there is now evidence that a carefully structured exercise program may benefit T-cell function: this function will depress for 12 to 24+ hours after exercise, but then rebound.
This T-cell depression is more pronounced after aerobics which is why aerobics are not allowed. The goal is to exercise intermittently, with exercise days separated by days of total rest, including an effort to have plenty of quality sleep.
The trick is to time the exercise days to take advantage of these rebounds. For an example, begin with an exercise day followed by 3 to 5 rest days; as stamina improves, then fewer rest days will be needed in between workouts.
However, because T-cell functions do fall for at least one day after aggressive exercises, be sure to never exercise two days in a row. Finally, an in intermittent exercise program, properly executed, may help to reset the HPA axis more towards normal.
On the following page is an exercise prescription that details these recommendations.
This program may begin with classical physical therapy if necessary. The physical therapy should involve massage, heat, ultrasound and simple range of motion exercises to relieve discomfort and promote better sleep and flexibility.
Ice (vasoconstriction) and electrical stimulation (muscle spasm and trauma) should not be used!
The program must evolve into a graded, ultimately strenuous exercise program that consists of a specific regimen of non-aerobic conditioning- see below.
Have the patient complete a gentle hour of prescribed exercise, then go home, have a hot bath or shower, than try to take a nap. Initially, patients will need this sleep, but as they recover, the exercise will energize them and then a nap will no longer be needed.
NOTE: a cardiac stress test may be necessary prior to exercising to ensure safety. . . .
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Page 32:
LYME REHAB-PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTION
. . . (there is a P.T. prescription all set to fill out here) . . .
Excerpt:
PROGRAM:
1. Aerobic exercises are NOT allowed, not even low impact variety, until the patient has recovered.
2. Conditioning: work to improve strength and reverse the poor conditioning that results from Lyme, through a whole-body exercise program, consisting of light calisthenics and/or resistance training, using light resistance and many repetitions.
This can be accomplished in exercise classes called "stretch and tone", or "body sculpture", or can be achieved in the gym with exercise machines or carefully with free weights (see cautions above).
3. Each session should last one hour. A gentle hour is preferable to a strenuous half-hour. If the patient is unable to continue for the whole hour, then decrease the intensity to allow him/her to do so.
4. Exercise no more often than every other day. The patient may need to start by exercising every 4th or 5th day initially, and as abilities improve, work out more often, but NEVER two days in a row. The nonexercise days should be spent resting.
5. This whole-body conditioning program is what is required to achieve wellness. A simple walking program will not work, and simply placing the patient on a treadmill or an exercise bike is not acceptable (except very briefly, as part of a warm-up), as aerobics can be damaging and must be avoided.
From Dr. Bruno's "Fainting and Fatigue" in the Spring 1996 CFIDS Chronicle
Post-polio expert Dr. Richard Bruno points out that physical over-activity is the biggest cause of post-polio symptoms. [3]
Excerpt:
``when mice infected with Coxsackie B3 were forced to swim in a warm pool, the virulence of the virus was drastically augmented.
In fact, viral replication was augmented 530 times. This did horrendous things to the animals' hearts. We all know that to play squash [similar to racketball] with the flu can lead to heart attacks.
Much the same danger can be courted by undertaking hard exercise with M.E. (CFS).'' End quote.
- article at link above. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
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- While this does not discuss infection state, this explains a lot for those with exercise intolerance - and what can help:
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