Physical Exercise and HD
Part 7

Getting Started

Physical activity is any bodily movement that burns calories, such as gardening, vacuuming, shoveling snow, walking to the store, climbing stairs, or playing ball with your grandchildren. As such, anyone can improve their physical fitness, regardless of age or physical condition. In fact, the greatest improvements are often seen among the frailest individuals who are nurtured through an exercise program. The easiest, safest, and most readily available physical activity for a person with HD is walking. It can be combined with a purposeful activity, such as walking a dog, pushing a person in a wheelchair, walking to the store to buy a newspaper or groceries, or picking up trash in the neighborhood.

Convincing people of the benefits of exercise is an essential first step. Many people with HD are worried about becoming a burden to their families. Explaining that exercise can help keep them healthy and make caregiving easier on their loved ones can be a strong selling point. But it is first important to consult with a physician before embarking on an exercise program. A health history and physical may reveal cardiac, musculoskeletal, or other problems that may impose restrictions on the type and intensity of exercise to be undertaken. If this is the case, request a referral to a physical therapist or cardiac-rehab specialist to work out a beginning regimen that is suitable for the individual. It may help to ask the person's physician to reinforce his or her exercise recommendation by writing out a prescription that can be shown to the individual periodically. Such an instruction carries more weight than suggestions from a caregiver. The key to motivating people to persevere in any program of lifestyle change is social support. Fitness club membership lists are filled with names of people who rarely come to work out after an initial "honeymoon" period. Many home treadmills, exercise bikes, and other fad equipment are unused after this initial period. Exercise programs for persons with disabilities that are successful are all characterized by the presence of exercise "buddies" or program monitors that provide ongoing supervision and encouragement.

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-D. McGee, 4-30-06

For further reading:

1. "Advanced Stages of Huntington’s Disease Caregivers Handbook: Exercise and Fitness." http://huntingtondisease.tripod.com/advancedstagesofhd/id8.html
   This is a Huntington’s Disease Handbook that has a chapter on exercise that discussed the importance of exercise and discusses sample exercise plans.
2. Bloor, CM. (2005). "Angiogenesis during exercise and training." Angiogenesis 8(3): 263-71.
   This technical article thoroughly examines the link between angiogenesis and physical activity.
3. White, L. (2005). "Exercise and Cognitive Function." The Lancet Neurology. 4(11): 690-691.
   This article explains the ways in which exercise can impact cognitive function.

Click here to return to "Lifesytle and HD: An Introduction to Life Practices That Promote Health."

Last Modified: 08/05/2008

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