Circuit Training: A Good Way To Increase Your Qualification Level If You Have MS
I was recently told that a very high percentage of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) do not exercise. As a fitness specialist with MS, I was blown away. But based on my experience of teaching the MS community firmly, I tend to believe it to be true. I hear a lot of people say they don't exercise because they don't know how. That’s where I found my niche: to fill that knowledge gap.
Research after research has found that exercise can benefit people with MS in many ways: improving cardiovascular function, bladder, and intestines; better sleep; power increased; mild fatigue and depression; and a positive attitude.
With such benefits, it is unfortunate that many people with MS do not go to the gym, exercise at home, or do some form of fitness program. But if you do not know where to start, do not understand how to get the right exercise program, or have not learned about the benefits of MS exercise, you are running out of energy so do nothing.
How Circuit Training Works
There are excellent exercise options that you can benefit from if you have MS, and one of these programs is regional training. This type of exercise increases your heart rate and strengthens your muscles at the same time. You will never be bored in a regional training program.
With a little rest between each exercise, you quickly move from one exercise machine - or a piece of equipment or a calisthenic function - to another to work out different muscle groups. Depending on the intensity of the exercise, you can do 8 to 12 different exercises in a row.
I have my clients do 10 to 12 reps on each machine, using a time less pressing speed, lasting between 120 and 144 seconds, before moving on to the next stop.
To keep things fun and encouraging, you can change it a bit by changing the exercises you do on each part of the body. Regional training exercises can be done in the gym with machines, at home with dumbbells and resistance belts, or on an outdoor fitness track by exchanging push-ups and squats for fast walking, running, or cycling.
You will need 20 to 30 minutes to exercise.
Consolidating With Doing Your Exercise But
To ensure proper form, avoid injury, and get results, I recommend working with a certified MS Fitness Training specialist. If working with a trainer is beyond your budget, you can find my book, Everyday Health and Fitness With Multiple Sclerosis, which contains a full-color section of almost all the exercises you can do in a mechanical gym or in a wheelchair. Just select one function for each body part to set your region.
The great thing about circuit training is it is easy to adjust the intensity level by adjusting how long you take a break between exercise, the speed at which you perform each movement, and the speed at which you pass the circuit.
A program like this works on all areas of your body, so you can get a full workout in a short amount of time, as long as you choose the exercise for each muscle group: spine, arms, chest, back, shoulders, and legs. If you take a break between sets and exercise, your heart rate will increase, and you will reap the benefits of healthy cardio.
Circuit Training Alerts and Warnings
Circulation training is an excellent way to help you lose weight and eat a healthy diet. So if you need to lose weight because you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol above MS, this may be a good decision for you. But please consult your doctor before starting any exercise program. Your doctor can help you determine if district training is right for you or if the schedule is too low for what you need.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, choose exercises that do not have a small effect. Do not do any movement that puts too much pressure on painful joints, such as jumping jugs.
If you have a knee or back injury, regional training is not for you. Talk to a fitness trainer or physical therapist about exercise that might be beneficial to you.
If you are pregnant and are doing regional training before pregnancy, you can continue to do so if you get your doctor's permission.
Make sure you stay clean and cool to avoid excessive heat while exercising, and do not do any exercise that puts you off and puts you at risk for falls.
I want to see the percentage of people who use MS cover the percentage who do not exercise. And circulation training is an excellent choice for MS exercise once you fully understand how to do it at a safe but challenging level for you.
David Lyons is the founder of the MS Fitness Challenge and oversees the Facebook group MS Fitness Challenge GYM.
Important: The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are those of an author and not of everyday life.