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Exercises Appropriate for Different Health Conditions - Advantages and Precautions.

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Physical inactivity leads to the pathway for the origin of many diseases in young and older people. Read the article to know more.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Atul Prakash

Published At November 3, 2022
Reviewed AtMarch 2, 2023

Introduction:

Regular exercises promote more health benefits. Physically active people are less likely to develop diseases, whereas physically inactive people are more prone to acquire diseases. In addition, exercise can control chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiac disorders.

How Exercise Improves a Chronic Condition?

Regular exercise manages symptoms and improves health. For example, aerobic exercise is good for heart health and endurance and helps in weight loss. High-intensity training like walking improves health and fitness. Strength training exercises improve muscle strength and increase joint stability. Flexibility exercises improve joint functions; stability exercises reduce the risk of falls.

What Are the Special Precautions Before Starting Exercises?

Depending on the medical condition, the doctor suggests certain precautions before starting. For example, individuals with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels before physical activity, as it lowers the sugar level. So the doctor advises snacking before starting exercise. For individuals with arthritis, the doctor advises taking a hot shower before starting physical activity, as heat relieves joint and muscle pain.

What Are the Diseases That Can Be Prevented by Doing Exercises?

1. Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: In older adults, research is done to assess the benefit of exercise- as it delays mild cognitive impairment and improves brain function; those at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. These people can do regular physical activity like other people who do not have the disease. Being physically active makes Alzheimer’s patients feel better, maintain a healthy weight, and follow routine toilet and sleep habits. Even caregivers can join them during the course to make them feel strong. During exercise, the person should wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Once after the session, the person should drink water to make them hydrated.

Exercises to Do:

  • A brisk walk.

  • Watch exercise videos and perform accordingly.

  • Dance.

  • Do mini-workouts.

  • If the person has walking difficulty, they can do simple exercises such as sweeping, cycling with stationary cycles, stretching or throwing soft elastic balls, stretching elastic bands, and light weight lifting procedures.

2. Arthritis: Exercise reduces stiffness and joint pain in arthritis patients. It also helps in reducing weight which relieves pressure on the joints. Exercises that put more pressure on the joints should be avoided in arthritis patients. If the patient has pain in a specific joint, it is advised to give rest to that site for at least two days.

Exercises to Do:

  • Flexibility Exercises: Stretching the upper and lower body helps joints keep moving, relieves stiffness, and gives pain-free movements.

  • Strengthening Exercises: Raising the overhead arm strengthens the muscle and protects joints.

  • Endurance Exercises: Walking, jogging, swimming, biking, and jumping ropes reduce the swelling of joints.

3. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): Getting an opinion from a pulmonary therapist is mandatory to know what the individual requires.

Exercises to Do:

  • Exercises that help arms and legs get stronger.

  • Breathing in and out for two seconds and blowing balloons.

  • Inhaling more air through nostrils and exhaling through pursed lips two times a day.

  • Pulmonary rehabilitation programs help to learn exercise and manage the disease.

4. Type 2 Diabetes: Exercise plays an important role in controlling and maintaining blood sugar levels. During physical activity, more glucose is utilized by the body, thereby maintaining the blood sugar level within normal limits.

Exercises to Do:

  • Stretch during breaks while watching tv.

  • Walking around when speaking over the phone.

  • Routine walking, cycling, swimming, aerobic exercises, dancing, weight lifting, and stretching exercises.

5. Cancer: Exercise improves fitness and quality of life. They also lower the risk of mortality.

Exercises to Do:

  • A combination of stretching, resistance training, and flexibility exercises can be done.

6. Obesity: Physical activity helps in weight loss and promotes good health. If a person is overweight and unable to do bending exercises, they can do normal exercises that are comfortable for them.

Exercises to Do:

  • Endurance Exercises: Brisk walking or jogging, dancing, swimming, climbing stairs, and playing tennis or basketball. It is important to warm up before starting and cool down after finishing endurance exercises.

  • Strength Exercises: Weight lifting, wall push-ups, and using resistance bands (beginners start with a light band and then increase slowly when they can do two sets of ten to fifteen repetitions easily). Should not hold breath while doing strength exercises.

  • Balance Exercises: Tai Chi- moving meditation, standing on one foot, the heel-to-toe walk, and standing from a seated position.

  • Flexibility Exercises: Back stretching, stretching thighs, and ankle stretching.

7. Cardiac Disorders: Physically active people are less likely to develop cardiac problems. Exercises help in maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus helping the heart to pump normally.

Exercises to Do:

  • Aerobic Exercises: Brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, and playing tennis for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, with moderate intensity.

  • Resistance Training: Working with dumbbells, resistance bands, push-ups, squats, and chin-ups for two nonconsecutive days per week.

  • Stretching, Flexibility, and Balance: Basic stretches and yoga every day before and after other exercises.

8. Osteoporosis: Doing exercises helps to improve bone health for osteoporosis patients. Exercises that avoid falls should be practiced as they may lead to bone fractures.

Exercises to Do:

  • Weight-bearing exercises like walking, jogging, and dancing three to four times a week.

  • Strengthening and balancing exercises.

9. Chronic Pain: People with chronic pain can exercise safely as it manages pain. In some instances, being inactive leads to more pain and loss of function. Exercise helps to relieve knee or hip pain. An increase in body weight causes severe pain. If there is pain or swelling in a specific area, give rest for two days.

Exercises to Do:

  • A combination of endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility exercises can be done.

Conclusion:

Everyone can benefit from exercising irrespective of age, race or ethnicity, sex, and health condition. Consult the doctor if experiencing discomfort or pain during physical activity. Also, stop workouts when the person experiences breathlessness or chest pain and report to the doctor regarding the symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Kinds of Exercises Be Done to Achieve the Various Health Benefits?

The followings are the four exercises performed to achieve various health benefits and to keep the body engaged and mobile:
- Balance.
- Strengthening.
- Aerobics.
- Stretching.

2.

How Can Exercise Help With Health Problems and Diseases?

Balance exercises, stretching, and other flexibility exercises can help joints stay mobile to function properly and reduce the risk of falling. It is most helpful in people with chronic diseases that have been prevalent for a long time. Exercise can help people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart conditions, depression, and joint pains cope with their symptoms and improve their overall health.

3.

What Is the Significance of Exercise to Your Health?

Aerobic exercise raises the heart rate and helps with the body's endurance and weight control.  Muscle strength can be improved through strength training, such as weight lifting and keeping the joints stable. Balance exercises are another important aspect of exercise, particularly for older adults and people with difficulty moving. Strength training can help with daily activities, and it can help to slow disease-related muscle weakness and keep the joints stable.

4.

What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Exercise?

The benefits of exercise are as follows:
- Healthy mind and body.
- Reduced stress.
- Reduction in chronic diseases.
- Improved memory.
- Younger Looks.
The drawbacks of exercise are as follows:
- Money and time.
- Changes in the dietary plan.
- Lack of control for urges.
- The possibility of injury.

5.

How Important Is Physical Health and Fitness Activity During a Pandemic?

During a pandemic, decreased physical contact with other human beings and restrictions to stay at home have led to depression and anxiety. Various studies have found that physical activity and exercise can be effective treatment strategies to treat the symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Regular exercise and workouts help maintain the body's mental and physical strength. Thus during a pandemic, it is essential to exercise and maintain health.

6.

What Are the Benefits of Doing Physical Activities Indoors?

Indoor physical activity has the following three advantages:
- Climate-Controlled - The temperature of an indoor physical activity can be controlled manually or by a system due to the enclosed space. This way, the player is more comfortable and devoid of extremely cold or hot weather.
- Less Upkeep - In a hot climate, artificial turf fields heat up very easily and heat up very fast similarly, in cold weather. They wither easily and need constant maintenance whereas an indoor sports facility, the turf can be easily maintained in a controlled climate and thus causing less hassle.
- Attractive and Clean - It is easier to maintain an indoor sports complex than an outdoor complex. As the climate is controlled and the area is limited, cleaning and maintenance can be done properly.

7.

Does Exercise Help to Reduce Stress?

Exercise is an essential part of stress management. Doing exercise regularly helps to release endorphins in the body. Endorphins are the happy hormones in the body. Stress reduces the production of such hormones, and exercise helps to elevate them, thus resulting in elevated levels of mood and happiness and reduced stress.

8.

How Does Strength Training Aid in the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease?

Various research shows that chronic illnesses such as back pain, body pain, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression can benefit from strength training. Strength training helps to improve thinking abilities and learning skills.

9.

Is Exercise Beneficial for Chronic Fatigue?

Chronic fatigue is a leading cause of diseases in today's era. Due to an extensive sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity, people have excessive fat gain and lethargy. Regular exercising and maintaining fitness will help people get over chronic fatigue, introduce a disciplined routine in life, and maintain a work-life balance.

10.

What Alleviates Chronic Fatigue?

Chronic fatigue is characterized by extreme fatigue that results in anxiety and depression, and lack of fitness. Such chronic fatigue can last from six months and more. There is no exact mechanism to explain this type of fatigue in the body.
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Dr. Atul Prakash
Dr. Atul Prakash

Orthopedician and Traumatology

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