An autoimmune disease, in which your immune system attacks its own tissues, can affect your joints, muscles, cells, nerves, glands and organs. Exercise is vital to building and maintaining strong muscles. However, you can experience muscle weakness in your limbs directly following an exercise session -- particularly if you suffer from certain autoimmune diseases. If you have an autoimmune disease, consult your doctor regarding specific exercise recommendations.
Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disease results from a malfunction in your immune system that causes it to mistakenly identify and make auto-antibodies to attack its own cells and tissues. The resulting damage produces autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Guillian-Barre syndrome, which affect nerve function and produce muscle weakness. Additional autoimmune diseases that may result in weakness or fatigue include rheumatoid arthritis -- affecting your joints -- and lupus, which can attack both your joints and organs. Inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as those that affect your thyroid gland may also result in fatigued or weakened limbs. Exercises that build stronger and more flexible muscles can help reduce muscle weakness. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other autoimmune diseases, range-of-motion exercises, weightlifting, aerobic activities, such as walking, swimming and riding a stationary bicycle, as well as using an elliptical training machine can help enhance your muscle strength and joint flexibility.
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder that impedes or destroys communication between your nerves and muscles, can affect any muscle in your body, including the muscles in your face, eyes, neck and throat, as well as those in your arms and legs. Myasthenia gravis occurs more frequently in women under 40 and men over 60, according to MayoClinic.com. A report in the November 2007 issue of the "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation" evaluated scientific studies that observed the effects of exercise therapies to improve muscle strength in patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases. Researchers discovered that strengthening activities, such as weightlifting, combined with aerobic activities were likely to be effective. In addition, aerobic exercises and breathing exercises -- specifically in patients with myasthenia gravis -- showed indications of effectiveness.
Multiple Sclerosis and Guillian-Barre Syndrome
Multiple sclerosis and Guillian-Barre syndrome -- progressive autoimmune disorders that attack the covering that protects the nerves in your brain and spinal cord -- can produce similar symptoms, including muscle weakness, fatigue and loss of coordination, as well as tingling and vision problems. Multiple sclerosis usually affects more women than men and generally appears between the ages of 20 and 40, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have mild to moderate multiple sclerosis, aerobic exercises, such as walking and swimming, as well as stretching activities may promote your muscle strength and flexibility. Guillian-Barre syndrome occurs in both sexes between the ages of 30 and 50. After recovery from this syndrome begins, perform assisted mat exercises, such as leg lifts, and gradually progress to performing exercises alone that involve the use of weights. Walking and riding on stationary bicycles can also strengthen muscles weakened by Guillian-Barre syndrome.
Thyroid Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune thyroid diseases affect production of the thyroid hormones, which play a vital role in body metabolism, can produce muscle fatigue in your arms and legs following exercise and at other times. Grave's disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, or an overabundance of thyroid hormones. This autoimmune disease frequently occurs in women over age 20 and can result in symptoms, including anxiety and weight loss. In contrast, Hashimoto's disease often causes hypothyroidism, or the underproduction of thyroid hormone, and commonly appears in middle-aged women and people with a history of thyroid disease. This autoimmune disease can result in symptoms, such as weight gain, dry skin and joint stiffness. If you suffer from a thyroid disorder, exercises using resistance bands or weights on your arms or legs, along with stretching exercises, may help strengthen and increase flexibility in your weakened muscles.
References
- The National Women's Health Information Center: Autoimmune Diseases: Overview
- MayoClinic.com; Myasthenia Gravis; Mayo Clinic Staff; September 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Multiple Sclerosis - Symptom; 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Hashimoto's Disease; Mayo Clinic Staff; February 2011
- PubMed Health; Graves Disease; 2011
- PubMed Health; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; 2011
