Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It most commonly affects the skin, joints, blood and kidneys but can strike anywhere. In some cases, a person with this disease can suffer from other separate disorders affecting the muscles and other tissues, such as myositis. Exercise can address many aspects of these problems and improve overall well-being, but you must take certain precautions. Always talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise program.
Links Between Lupus and Myositis
Lupus causes chronic inflammation in the body. While lupus can create a feeling of overall fatigue, myositis occurs when the inflammation specifically targets the muscles. While this condition typically does not cause any pain, it leads to muscle weakness.
Benefits of Exercise
If you have lupus myositis, exercise can benefit you in several ways. While exercise cannot reverse the muscle damage inflicted by myositis, it can help strengthen and preserve existing muscle, says physical therapist Sherry Backus of the New York-based Hospital for Special Surgery. Both of these conditions can also induce a sense of fatigue, and exercise can help combat this feeling. Backus also notes that increasing physical activity might help reduce doses of steroids, a main treatment for lupus myositis that can cause a number of unpleasant side effects.
Exercise Routines
No official guidelines exist when it comes to exercise and lupus myositis. What you can comfortably handle will depend on many factors including whether you are currently experiencing a mild chronic state of lupus, a remission or a severe flare-up of symptoms. Physical therapist Robin Benick, also of the Hospital for Special Surgery, recommends an exercise program that includes strength training, aerobic activity and flexibility. When it comes to strength training, stick to lighter weights for fewer repetitions rather than lifting heavier weights for fewer. Exercises like yoga and Pilates can help increase flexibility. Good cardiovascular exercises include walking and swimming; aim for at least 20 minutes three times a week.
Backus notes research, published in a 2000 issue of the British Journal of Rheumatology, which found that myositis patients who took part in 15 minutes of stretching and conditioning exercises along with a 15-minute walk five times a week did not suffer any increase in their disease, and a few participants were able to reduce medication levels. No changes in the inflammatory chemicals were observed. The study had the aim of determining whether or not exercise would have any negative impact on the condition. Research looking at the effects of exercise on myositis has been limited.
Considerations
While exercise can help reduce symptoms of lupus and myositis, you should not stress yourself too much. Exercising too heavily during an active flare-up will worsen fatigue and pain, while exercising too much during a mild, chronic state or during a remission can trigger a flare-up. Your steroid medications can affect your ability to exercise, and when taking long-term steroids, you might need to modify certain aspects of your fitness program.
To design a safe and effective regimen, you should work with a physical therapist who has experience working with patients who suffer from lupus and/or myositis.
References
- Lupus Foundation of America: Lupus and Overlap
- Hospital for Special Surgery: Exercise and Physical Therapy Guidelines for People with Myositis
- Hospital for Special Surgery: Physical Fitness, Physical Therapy and Lupus
- University of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine: Management and Treatment of Myositis
