Exercise for Metabolic Conditions

So what are metabolic conditions?

Metabolism refers to all of the chemical reactions, which take place in our bodies. These reactions extract energy from the food we eat and consequently help us to produce energy for growth to help us stay alive.

When these chemical processes don’t work properly it causes an imbalance, which ultimately upsets our metabolism. The result can be the development of a metabolic disorder.

Being diagnosed with a disorder of this nature can be devastating to learn and can cause significant disruption to how we live our lives. However, you will be pleased to know that exercise has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for a large majority of metabolic disorders.

Not only can exercise help prevent the condition from occurring in the first place, but it can help manage it, improve it or get rid of it all together.

Here are some of the primary metabolic conditions we work with:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of Arthritis, arthritis is the single greatest cause of disability in New Zealand. More than half a million people will be affected by arthritis during their lifetime.

Diabetes

Did you know at the end of December 2013, there were 243,125 individuals enrolled with a primary health organisation with either type 1 or 2 diabetes in New Zealand!

Cancer

Cancer is the country’s single biggest cause of death. Most New Zealanders will have some experience of it – either personally or through a relative or friend.

Weight management difficulties

Almost one in three adults (aged 15 years and over) were obese (31%) the adult obesity rate increased from 27% in 2006/07 to 31% in 2014/15

High blood pressure and cholesterol

By managing your cholesterol you can lower your risk of heart attack or stroke, here is an interesting animation on Blood Pressure & Heart disease risk factors:

There is no one approach for exercise for someone with a given condition. The differences in ailment severity, the time of onset, the cause of onset, the medications you may be taking, your current management practices, your history, and not to mention your exercise experience and knowledge regarding your condition, will all significantly alter what the best thing for your condition is and how your programme should progress!

If you are struggling with your condition and have been told to get moving but have no idea where or how to start, then we are your first stop. Contact us now to see how we can help you get started.

Understand what’s going on in your body and learn how to make the right choices with your exercise!

Source: NZ Heart Foundation & NZ Ministry of Health