Exercises and physical education for diseases

Author: Timko Ilya - master of the whole project and fitness trainer.
2011-01-13

This topic is very broad. Therefore, this page will cover general aspects, while each specific disease will have its own dedicated page. I will say right away that you can train with any illness. The question is how. I have previously conducted sessions with individuals suffering from heart defects, valve prolapse, protrusions, hernias, osteochondrosis, hypertension, hypotension, cerebral palsy, and so on. Depending on the disease, the arsenal of exercises used varies, but it is always possible to choose exercises that train a person, improve their well-being, and do no harm. If you consult a doctor, there is a 90% chance they will advise against lifting weights, since at least one illness is likely present. And when you become disabled, they will assign you therapeutic exercise (LFC).

It is believed that engaging in strength training can lead to injuries. Yes, that is true, injuries can occur. However, based on my observations, athletes incur injuries during training no more frequently than untrained individuals do in everyday life. Untrained individuals who sustain any injury tend to move even less, which promotes hypodynamia. Due to a lack of physical activity, they become increasingly vulnerable to diseases and infections, thus closing the vicious cycle.

Currently, many rehabilitation centers are being established both abroad and in Russia, where people are treated for various musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) through exercises on machines and other rehabilitation exercises. Examples include the centers of Valentin Dikul, Bubnovsky, and others. More and more people are realizing that regardless of their condition, it is possible and necessary to train. The aforementioned centers are quite good. However, for their "exclusivity," they charge significant fees (the first eight sessions at the Bubnovsky center cost around 10,000 rubles). Personally, in my gym, I train individuals with disabilities, including those with paralyzed legs, cerebral palsy, and blindness. I do not dispute that even minor deviations should be treated seriously to prevent them from becoming significant. If a person has a medical condition, the first principle of a trainer, just like a doctor, is to do no harm.

In general, LFC can be divided into post-operative (i.e., when limited training is temporary) and chronic diseases. Post-operative LFC is conducted after surgery related to various fractures, dislocations, ligament tears, etc. It is temporary and highly individualized. LFC for chronic diseases and various congenital deviations is mostly aimed at improving the person's well-being and partially or fully restoring motor functions.

On this site, we will strive to cover training for the most commonly encountered diseases and deviations. The sections presented here are dedicated to exercises for these illnesses and related recommendations. All articles are written by specialists: trainers and doctors working in this field.