Moderate exercise is recommended for those with neuropathy, avoiding high-impact activities. Water aerobics and swimming are good options, but proper footwear and foot care are crucial. Yoga can also be beneficial, but diabetics should be cautious of foot injuries. Start slowly and gradually increase exercise time.
To exercise with neuropathy or nerve damage, you should aim for a moderate training schedule rather than overdo it. However, it is important to have regular exercise sessions, as it can lessen the extent or intensity of neuropathy over time. In general, exercises that do not put a lot of pressure on the skeleton, especially the feet, are good for people with neuropathy.
Running, jogging, walking, hiking, and aerobics can be too much when exercising with nerve damage. If you have moderate to severe neuropathy in your feet or legs, overdoing or even doing these activities moderately can cause foot ulcers or joint damage. If the feet or legs are not swollen, sore, or have a “pins and needles” sensation, then a limited amount of these types of exercises can be done.
Water aerobics in the shallow end of a pool may be fine in moderation, as the water helps cushion your feet and joints. However, since there is still foot contact on the pool floor, deep water aerobics can offer even more cushioning. Swimming is often an excellent physical activity for those who exercise with neuropathy. Since it involves full-body movement, swimming can provide general toning and cardiovascular benefits when done at a fast pace.
While regular exercise is especially important for diabetics with neuropathy, as it can help lower blood sugar, it’s important to wear proper shoes and foot controls after workouts. Yoga can be an extremely beneficial exercise for neuropathy as it is gentle on the body, but if done in bare feet, diabetics should ensure that they do not get a scratch or even a small stone on both feet. Something as minor as a scratch on the foot can go unnoticed by people with neuropathy, as their feet are often numb. If left untreated, a foot infection can become so serious that amputation is necessary.
If you start the type of exercise that best suits your degree of neuropathy, you should aim for about 30 minutes three to five times a week, depending on your fitness level and doctor’s recommendations. In addition to water exercises, cycling may be another activity you discover you can do with neuropathy. It is important to start any type of exercise with neuropathy slowly and gradually increase the time spent on it.
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