Sitting still means trouble while dealing with Lyme . Trouble as in increased physical symptoms brought on by inflammation and rigid habituation. Lyme and sitting still, is just a bad combo.
We Have Evolved Away From Regular Movement
Sitting still is not what our bodies are designed for. Lyme and sitting still makes matters worse. What do I mean by this? Basically, we were made to move and our bodies thrive in movement. Ancient humans were hunter gatherers and normally walked over 6 miles each day.
I work on the computer all day, many people do. Sitting still all day is a form of conditioning just as training is. When you have a home, lifestyle or job built around movement, you get the benefits of the movement.
People who live in cites and use public transportation, move more and gain the benefits. Dog owners do too. There are many jobs that combine physical and mental activity, farmers, delivery and trades jobs are common examples. But these days too many of us have jobs built around stillness and mental focus. This impacts our lymph flow, our muscle and joint strength over time.
Wake Up To The Danger Of A Sedentary Job And Life
Computer work in combination with inflammation issues and Lyme entrained me to have, stiff neck, curved weak back, sore hips and swollen hands. Stagnant Lymph, muscle weakness were also part of this picture. With Lyme it is critical not to protect ability not promote disability. Change was in order. Sitting still day after day leads to weakness, healthy regular movement helps build strength.
We are blessed and cursed that our bodies respond to what we do every day. We can cultivate physical strength or watch it erode. Sources like Forbes Magazine and the Huffington Post caution about the effects of lack of movement on health in healthy people. Heart disease, diabetes and chronic illness increase for very sedentary people. Lyme disease puts plenty of stress on the body without additional problems. Multiple countries published movement guidelines and recommendations to protect the health of their population.
Lyme And Sitting Still Is A Bad Combo
Work to Stay Active
As soon as I got the doctors okay, I began to add movement to my day. I crawled 1 loop around the local mall. It was about a 1/3 of a mile and it took me 20 minutes. The mall was a perfect place to walk because the floor is even and clean, it has great temperature control and lots of places to sit down. I worked up to a 2 miles then added Pilates to rebuild strength and followed this up with yoga. Now I do a morning workout and add a walk or weights a couple of times a week in the evening. I make it a practice to get up from my computer and move around every hour or so because it makes me feel better.
Lyme adds a layer of complication to your fitness routine but regular movement is essential to promote recovery.
- Get clearance and direction from your Lyme literate physician.
- If you are not ambulatory at this point, work with a trained physical therapist
- Pay attention to how you feel
- Decide when to push through and when to rest.
- No exhaustion after your after work out experience. I made the mistake of pushing myself too hard when healing from Lyme and set myself back.
- Add movement that is easy throughout your day.
- Add an app to your phone or your computer to remind you to move.
- Walk out to the mailbox,
- Store your phone steps away from where you sit.
- Stand up at your desk and stretch or dance for a minute multiple times a day.
- Park a little farther from the entrance at the store.
- Vary your activity.
- Add strengthening, cardio, and flexibility into your work out.
- Change things up to lessen wear and tear on your joints and muscles.
- Warm Up This is really important to be safe and begin to enjoy movement.
- Take the time to move slowly to be sure your body is cooperating before you increase intensity.
- Don’t Work out 7 days a week. Your body needs rest.
Click this link to see additional suggestions. When healthier consider a walking or standing desk, so that you can work and build strength and endurance at the same time.
Movement Has An Important Role
Healing with Lyme is a journey and all journeys involve movement. Lyme and sitting still too much can create more problems. Work with your health care team to add regular moment to your recovery strategy.
The information provided in this blog is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.