Medical fitness is a variety of exercise that can help treat many diseases. On the one hand, regular physical activity reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. But exercise is not only a form of prevention - it turns out that it can also help in the fight against disease. Read what medical fitness is all about.

Medical fitnessis not new. Already in the 16th century, a medic and philosopher, court physician of Polish kings and promoter of physical culture, Wojciech Oczko used to say that "movement will replace almost any medicine, while no drug will replace movement". A recent study conducted at McMaster University in Canada supports this maxim.

In the study, 130,000 people were observed over the course of 7 years. people from 17 countries, monitoring their lifestyle and he alth. Data analysis showed that 150 minutes of physical activity a week (i.e. about 30 minutes a day) reduced the risk of death (regardless of the cause) by 28%, and the risk of heart death by 20%. Also, the daily observations of cardiologists, rheumatologists, diabetologists and orthopedists prove that physically active patients live longer and in better condition. Such conclusions are close to the conclusion that exercise can serve not only prophylaxis, but also effectively support the treatment of chronic diseases.

You're sick - get up from the couch

The idea of ​​medical fitness, i.e. treatment through sport, was established in the United States and resulted in a global project called Exercise is Medicine, which is now carried out in 44 countries. In Poland, the idea of ​​EIM under the name of medical fitness is popularized by the founders of the Zaskoczeni Wiekiem foundation - Anna Plucik-Mrożek, an internal medicine specialist and Małgorzata Perl, a fitness trainer, as part of the 2016-2020 National He alth Program. They believe that rehabilitation lasting several weeks, e.g. after a heart attack or orthopedic surgery, is not enough - patients need exercises that will permanently change their lifestyle and maintain their physical condition in the long term.

Even low-intensity training performed systematically promotes more efficient heart function, and this may slow down the progression of the disease or prevent its recurrence. In addition, it improves the condition of the body, which allows you to feel good despite the disease.

Therefore, they recommend that you constantly exercise appropriate to your age, condition,he alth status and the presence of chronic diseases. The first pilot program of medical fitness was carried out in 2010 in Legionowo in a group of people with cardiovascular diseases, rheumatic diseases, posture defects, diabetes and after oncological treatment. Before starting the exercises, each participant had a medical consultation. Exercises and classes were adjusted individually and showed that such "tailor-made" training can be as effective as traditional medicine.

How does medical fitness affect the body?

What happens in the body when we force the body to exercise? It's simple: the heart speeds up and pumps blood faster, and the lungs breathe in more air. As a result, the cells of the body receive more oxygen and nutrients; all organs and tissues, from the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, pancreas, stomach and intestines to skin, bones and cartilage, are better nourished.

It makes the processes in the body more intense: digestion is more effective, calories are burned faster and better utilized, the excretion of toxins is improved, cholesterol levels are regulated, insulin resistance is reduced, wounds heal faster and broken bones grow together, increases the efficiency of the respiratory system. The hormone-secreting glands work more efficiently, which in turn regulates the functioning of all organs. Finally - after a quarter of an hour of movement, the immune system is activated, supporting the fight against the disease.

It is of great importance that the movement, triggering the so-called happiness hormones (endorphins), improves general well-being, reduces pain. Therefore, illness should not make us idle. “I don't exercise because it hurts because I feel weak” is a bad argument. You have to say to yourself: " I exercise so that I do not feel pain, to have more strength ".

This will be useful to you

Tutorial for everyone

BEFORE THE TRAINING:

  • measure blood pressure,
  • check if you are taking any medications you need to take regularly every day
  • take your heart rate monitor and a bottle of water with you to train,
  • wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

DURING TRAINING:

  • replenish fluids during exercise,
  • control the intensity of training,
  • report any symptoms of malaise, pain or discomfort to the trainer,
  • avoid exercise where the head is below the heart as this may raise blood pressure,
  • watch out when changing your position from horizontal to vertical - a sudden drop in pressure increases the risk of fainting and visual disturbances,
  • if you feel the need, stop and regulate your breathing,
  • duringdo not overdo the group training - this is not a competition!

AFTER TRAINING:

  • allow yourself a moment of relaxation,
  • If possible, measure your blood pressure and heart rate and write down the result.

Under a medical umbrella

The idea behind medical fitness is its therapeutic nature. If we want to cure or support the treatment of a disease with physical activity, we cannot engage in high-intensity exercise or exercise that is fashionable but may harm us.

First you need to undergo a medical consultation. The attending physician, who knows the patient's he alth well, conducts a detailed interview, studies the documentation on the course of the disease and orders specialist tests to find out the initial condition of the candidate for training. On this basis, together with a fitness trainer, he develops a personalized set of exercises. A person who was physically inactive before the disease will receive different recommendations and a different set of exercises than one who actively played sports.

The type of classes depends on the underlying disease, but also on the patient's preferences. It is very important that he co-creates the program, because he will be more willing to do the exercises he likes than those that will be imposed on him. In addition, they will gain a feeling that they have an influence on the effects of their actions that motivates them to be active. It is equally important that the training is carried out under the supervision of a qualified instructor, possibly in cooperation with a psychologist or psychiatrist (especially in the case of treating depression). The trainer's belaying and periodic check-ups make it possible to adjust the exercise program, e.g. in the event of relapse or after exhaustive chemotherapy - in such situations, you should not overstrain.

Important

If you are able to talk without losing your breath while performing aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling, Nordic walking, jogging, your level of exertion is likely to be adequate, remaining in a moderate intensity aerobic zone. This pace is safe for your body.

Prescription exercises

Each type of chronic disease requires a different type of exercise. A medical fitness program for a hypertensive patient will have more pressure-lowering aerobic cardio and interval exercises, and for a diabetic, more strength and muscle mass-building exercises that result in better insulin utilization and a reduction in blood glucose levels. The oncological patient may be prescribed a type of exercise that will facilitate the elimination of toxins, reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, and reduce the concentration of inflammatory factors (unfortunately, there are no clear guidelines foroncological patients - the most important here is the experience of the doctor and trainer, as well as the patient's feelings and well-being).

A person with joint diseases will have recommended exercises to improve their mobility and increase the efficiency of individual muscle groups, and a patient with osteoporosis - weight-bearing exercises. For a person treating depression, it may be advisable to walk, cycle or jog, which release endorphins and put the brain into meditation mode, or support exercises in a group (in depression it is important that exercise is fun, but better results are achieved by activity with a greater intensity).

Training must always be individually profiled, because chronic diseases often coexist, e.g. a diabetic patient may also have hypertension, and a cancer patient may have circulation problems or depression. That is why it is so important to closely cooperate with a physician and fitness trainer, and if necessary - also with a psychologist.

Self-training

After the initial exercise program under the close supervision of your doctor and trainer, if everything goes smoothly, you can continue to exercise alone or in general fitness classes. The most important thing is the safety of practicing sports and the joy that comes from it. Follow-up medical consultations should take place in the event of disturbing, additional symptoms. In addition, the patient with a chronic disease remains under the care of his attending physician, who can also monitor the type of treatment taken. physical activity.

"Zdrowie" monthly

Category:

ABC of exercises