These low-impact activities help me stay active with Cushing’s disease

Having Cushing’s disease is a full-time job. On many days, I just want to curl up in bed, pull a blanket over me, and sleep all day because my body is so tired and aches all over. However, life goes on, even with my illness, and I can’t ask it to stop for me. Instead, I must find ways to stay active and healthy while caring for my body’s particular needs.

But living in the city makes it difficult. There aren’t any parks within walking distance, and gyms are too far away and don’t feel like the right fit for me anyway. So I’ve worked hard to cultivate ways to stay active within my one-bedroom apartment. Here’s how I do it:

Maintenance

The Society of Behavioral Medicine has discussed the benefits of micro-workouts, which are five-minute workouts you can do multiple times throughout the day. It can be difficult for my body to do full, 30-minute workouts, so I’ve been incorporating micro-workouts into my life.

Since I work from home, I simply get up every hour to do 20 squats, 15 pushups, or some weight lifts. It helps keep me active without putting too much pressure on my joints.

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Yoga and Pilates

When I do longer workouts, I stick to low-impact exercises such as yoga and Pilates. This has slowly helped me build up my strength. I started at 10 minutes every week and slowly added time until I could do 30 minutes. Then I began to do yoga or Pilates twice a week, and eventually, three times a week. It’s become a workout I trust and that doesn’t put a lot of pressure on my weakened muscles.

Fun at-home additions

Instead of a gym membership, I’ve added a few additions at home to make movement easier. I bought a stepper, which I use whenever I’m bored to add a little movement to my day. I also follow dance pages on TikTok to learn some new dances when I need a fun way to move my body. Both of these additions have helped tremendously and make moving around a bit more fun.

Lastly, when I’m having a lazier day, I’ll just walk around for five minutes every hour or so. Sometimes I use that time to clean, while other times I take a break from work. Occasionally, I’ll pick a song and pace around until the song is over.

Moving and taking care of your body is important, and finding ways to do it that don’t strain muscles or injure joints is a top priority. There are so many different types of workouts out there, so find the ones that work best for you and make you feel great about yourself. And, of course, always consult your healthcare team before trying new workouts or activities.

You can follow my journey on TikTok and YouTube.

Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.