Physical Health is often assumed to be equivalent to the absence of illness. However, physical health denotes a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Numerous studies and initiatives have emphasised the advantages of exercise for physical and mental health, particularly in the context of chronic illness, given its present preponderance throughout western society. Nonetheless, maintaining a good exercise and health balance can be challenging, as factors outside one’s control can disrupt the best efforts to self-care through exercise.
This essay investigates the nexus of chronic health and exercise, exploring how to achieve the best exercise balance when living with chronic health conditions. Autonomic neurological dysfunctions, such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and related conditions, chronic migraines, and epilepsy, motivate this examination. These conditions can severely impact daily life and inflict debilitating symptoms despite the absence of visible illness (K. Lefferts et al., 2022). As a result, the consequences of losing the exercise-health equilibrium are even more severe; a consistent cycle of overexertion and subsequent health deterioration often ensues. Nevertheless, exercise is crucial to maintaining health and preventing further deterioration in chronic conditions.
Still, it may be impossible to achieve a robust exercise-health balance. Therefore, this essay seeks to achieve a delicate exercise-health balance amidst chronic conditions by clarifying the bounds of one’s health and how far it is possible to push them in the pursuit of more exercise. This also involves demystifying the often vague understanding of what constitutes a ‘good level’ of exercise and how to ensure health is not compromised in its pursuit (Zakari et al., 2018). The requirements for good exercise-regimen planning are outlined in this discussion, followed by the personal experience of a failed plan due to numerous extenuating circumstances.
This exploration illustrates the difficulties in executing even the best-laid plans and the need for flexibility when confronting chronic health conditions. Readers can expect to learn about the delicate nexus between exercise and health and how these principles have informed adjustments to their own health-management approaches through holistic and rigorous consideration and planning. Ultimately, it is crucial to acknowledge that despite the desire to exercise, there are times when health cannot be maintained.</p>
Understanding Chronic Health Conditions
Chronic health, or chronic health conditions, refers to debilitating long-term health issues. A chronic condition is generally defined as a disease that lasts three months or more, is rarely completely cured, and is generally progressive in nature (Khasanova and M. Henagan, 2023). Inappropriate management of chronic conditions can result in serious health ramifications or even mortality. Chronic health conditions afflict a staggering 60 percent of American adults, representing nearly 157 million individuals. Of these, 39 million are classified as having “high burden” chronic conditions, significantly impeding daily functioning and severely curtailing quality of life. High-burden chronic conditions include arthritis; asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; diabetes; heart failure; heart attack; high cholesterol; high blood pressure; kidney disease; mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder; and strokes.
Chronic illness fundamentally alters one’s emotional and psychological makeup, necessitating a drastic change in how life is approached and lived. The social sphere is of particular concern, as many people suffering from chronic diseases experience shame or embarrassment. Living with a chronic disease can be especially taxing during adolescence or early adulthood, when extensive lifestyle changes must be made amid the pressures of peer acceptance and social inclusion. While many chronic diseases ultimately jeopardize longevity, which can invoke feelings of hopelessness and despair, it is the smaller daily obstacles and struggles that wear down the resolve of those afflicted. It is essential to note that, although they may be invisible to outside onlookers, chronic diseases often manifest notable physical symptoms and limitations.
There is a broad range of chronic conditions, affecting various bodily systems and presenting an assortment of symptoms. As such, exercise strategies must be adaptable to each condition’s specific requirements. Understanding the chronic health condition landscape provides a solid foundation for introducing how exercise can impact management.
Additionally, the more obscure emotional and psychological aspects of living with chronic diseases make a compelling case for why exercise strategies must be individualized. By grasping the chronic health condition framework, readers can more clearly understand the hurdles faced by individuals with chronic health issues.
Common Chronic Health Conditions
Many people find themselves living with chronic health conditions. Some of these are well known, like diabetes and heart disease. Others, like certain forms of arthritis or respiratory diseases, are less visible. Chronic illnesses can vary in the severity and extent of their effects on individuals. Some might require deep lifestyle changes, while others may not impact physical activity at all. It is essential to understand that there will be a wide range of implications for physical activity based on how health conditions manifest (Luan et al., 2019). Therefore, it is essential to recognize that two people with the same diagnosis may have very different active abilities, and exercise plans must be tailored accordingly. Readers will find more details about specific health conditions and suggested movements later on, but some general overviews are provided here.
A chronic condition, also referred to as a chronic disease or persistent condition, is one lasting 1 year or more that requires ongoing or long-term medical attention, limits activities of daily living, or entails a residual disability. Chronic conditions are common and growing in number. In fact, 40% of adults in the U.S. have two or more chronic health conditions. In addition to the well-known effects of taking medication and regular visits to the doctor, many chronic conditions are also affected by lifestyle – what is eaten, how much is slept, and how much one moves. Although the specifics vary, there are generally recognized lifestyle categories relevant to chronic health conditions: diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
Impact of Chronic Health Conditions on Exercise
Exercise provides countless physical, mental, and emotional benefits, and is essential in treating and managing many chronic health conditions, injuries, and disabilities. But paradoxically, chronic health can hinder a person’s ability to exercise, sometimes in more ways than one might expect. First, many chronic health conditions directly impact a person’s ability to exercise by creating physical limitations. These limitations can manifest as reduced mobility, flexibility, strength, endurance, or coordination. One might think of conditions like multiple sclerosis or stroke-related disability, which can create significant physical barriers to exercise. Even still, subtle changes to fitness can stem from less obvious chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or inflammatory bowel disease, causing a person’s stamina or strength to dull without them knowing it (L. Connolly et al., 2024).
Moreover, many chronic health conditions evoke persistent symptoms that can make any form of exercise excruciatingly uncomfortable or impossible. Conditions like arthritis or chronic pain generate direct, ongoing physical discomfort that can make even simple movements intolerable. Other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or migraine inflict sudden, acute symptoms that can be debilitating for hours or days at a time, making the prospect of exercise impossible. Even outside physical limitations and symptoms, chronic health can deter a person from exercising for many psychological reasons. The known fears and anxieties that come with anything outside one’s comfort zone drastically intensify when a person has a chronic health condition. Everything from concern over injuring oneself to anxiety over how others may react can create a mental barrier to exercise beyond other considerations of fitness level or social intimidation. Add the fear of triggering health symptoms or “flare ups” when exercising, and it may seem impossible for a person with chronic health to find safe and comfortable ways to exercise. Exploring what chronic health conditions entail is essential for developing well-rounded exercise options. But beyond that, this awareness is crucial for anyone looking to exercise—individuals and healthcare providers alike.
Outlining the many ways chronic health can impact a person’s ability to exercise helps recognize what obstacles to exercise might exist in a person’s life. With that recognition, people can better formulate how to adapt their exercise for health status. Addressing these details creates a bridge to actionable solutions in the following sections. Understanding how chronic health can impact one’s ability to exercise provides the knowledge needed to foster an inclusive exercise environment.
Benefits of Exercise for Chronic Health
A chronic health condition is an illness, injury, or disability that has been, or is likely to be, permanent or long-term, and may also be progressive. A person with a chronic health condition may experience limitations in their ability to perform any life activities involving physical or mental health. Chronic health conditions are among the leading causes of illness, disability, and death in the world.
Despite the challenges a chronic health condition may bring, there is a lot that can be done to improve health and wellbeing. Research shows that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing some chronic health conditions, and that it can help to manage and alleviate the impact of existing chronic health conditions. Being physically active can improve cardiovascular health, mobility, flexibility, strength, energy levels, sleep quality, mood, mental wellbeing, and opportunities for socializing (Zakari et al., 2018). Regular physical activity plays an important role in the treatment of most chronic health conditions. And while chronic health conditions can be extremely challenging to live with, adopting regular physical activity as a treatment plan can have a deep and meaningful impact on everyday life.
Exercise alleviates the symptoms of chronic health conditions, some of which include: arthritis, anxiety and depression, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, obesity, osteoporosis and other bone health issues, parkinson’s disease, and stroke. Research shows that exercise is beneficial for treating the symptoms of these chronic health conditions (Qiu et al., 2022). The more consistent the exercise, the more benefits are gained. Adherence to a weekly exercise routine is the most important factor in considering treatment options for a chronic health condition.
However, it’s good to know that the health benefits of any activity, even just a little bit, far exceed the risks of not being active. These guidelines will show how to exercise safely and effectively in order to gain the maximum health benefits. It is important to think of exercise as an essential part of living with a chronic health condition, and therefore an essential part of self-management strategies. For that reason, these steps provide the foundation to achieving the best health outcomes possible.
Guidelines for Exercising with Chronic Health Conditions
Exercise can be an incredibly beneficial tool for improving physical fitness. However, finding a personalized balance can be tricky when struggling with chronic health conditions. To help, here are some tips on safely incorporating exercise into one’s life while managing chronic health conditions. Firstly, it is always best to connect with a healthcare provider about creating an exercise plan. Even if one feels up to the task of exercising solo, it is important to find a plan that considers what one can and cannot do. This helps avoid doing too much too quickly, which could exacerbate some chronic health issues. Healthcare providers can help identify limitations when it comes to exercise, which is critical to developing a sustainable exercise plan (Maiorana et al., 2018).
There are many forms of exercise, and it often takes some trial and error to find what feels right. Strength training is a great option because it does not require a lot of time, can mostly be done at home, and provides visible progress. However, some chronic health conditions make it difficult to engage in strength training without injury. Cardiovascular exercise is the best option if that is the case. Vigorous exercise is not necessary to improve cardiovascular health and fitness, and activities like walking, dancing, and cycling can help improve fitness levels. The key to setting an exercise routine is finding accessibility and consistency. It is essential to start slowly and keep the intensity low, gradually increasing the exercise’s vigor as comfort allows. Symptoms often get worse before they get better when beginning an exercise plan, so starting low and slow helps prevent exacerbation.
Alternatively, someone can take on too much too quickly, leading to debilitating symptoms and panic about exercising, so taking the time to adjust is crucial. It can take several months for the body to adjust to an exercise routine, but once it does, keeping up with the exercise should prevent the return of symptoms. Consider keeping a diary of exercise routines and symptoms for at least the first month of a new exercise plan so patterns can be identified and adjustments made as necessary. It’s also essential to create space for rest and recovery; they should be regarded as integral exercise days rather than something to do when a flare-up occurs.
If possible, taking a full day or two off from exercise each week will also help prevent symptoms from worsening and provide time to recuperate. Finding the right balance with chronic health conditions might take some time, but it is critical to a healthier lifestyle.