Exercise

[SirRobert]

I’m so sorry to ask for advice again. Very new to this all and the GP says ask Gastro and vice-versa!

I’m just increasing my exercise and building up from muscle wastage (well trying to!).

The GP sent a text regarding an enquiry, saying that he wouldn’t recommend swimming, for example. I thought this would be gentle exercise. Currently building up my step count instead.

I’ve seen various articles saying exercise increases AST and ALT levels? I mean I’m not about to run the next marathon, but slightly concerned reading this as thought exercise would be a good thing to do.

Many thanks

[AyrshireK]

Gentle exercise just now gradually increasing. Your doctor said swimming might be too much just now but you can always go in the pool and do some gentle exercise - walking through water gives a bit of resistence without the stresses and strains and might be pleasant for a change. (In the keeping fit for transplant booklet my hubby has been sent it certainly lists walking, cycling and swimming as suitable exercise - just don't over do it or exercise to absolute exhaustion).

It's things like super intensive exercise that can increase ALT/AST and some of that will be as a result of enzymes being released from musles. So unless you were to suddenly be taking up HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) or power lifting you will be ok.

Katie

[SirRobert in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you!!

[AyrshireK in reply to SirRobert]

The BLT has a page about frailty in liver disease which has a little section about exercise. britishlivertrust.org.uk/fr...

Exercising well

You may feel that you don’t have any energy or strength. It is important to build this up slowly and tailor the amount of exercise to what you are capable of doing. Try to build up to:

- some aerobic exercise at least twice a week and totaling 150 minutes each week. Aerobic means doing something that leaves you slightly out of breath but still able to talk.

- Some sort of resistance training at least twice a week - using both your upper and lower body. Ideally this should include 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.

[SirRobert in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you so much - really appreciate it.

[AyrshireK in reply to SirRobert]

Pinged you another PM with some info.

[NieceByMarriage]

As AyrshireK has said, you really have to be going some to increase liver enzymes by exercise. My hobby is powerlifting and I wondered if that was contributing to my raised enzymes - in fact it turned out to be Hep C.

As a keen exerciser myself and very frustrated with my current limitations I would say that the best way to build back up tends to be by volume rather than intensity. By which I mean a half hour walk rather than a 10 minute run. Once you are at the point where you can readily do an hour's walk at a purposeful pace (i.e. not just ambling, but not rushing) without any problem or need to rest then you could look at adding in a bit more intensity. To build up muscles resistance band exercises are good. But also done with little enough resistance that you can manage several repetitions. Resistance bands are cheaply available and usually come with lots of exercise ideas. You'd want to work towards something like two or three sets of ten or twelve repetitions, with a couple of minutes rest in between each set. A band that only allows you to do five before you give up would not be right for the rehabilitation you are aiming for.

AyrshireK's suggestion of walking in the pool and doing some general movements against the resistance of the water is a super one and well worth trying if you like being in a pool. You could then build up to doing a length of swimming followed by some gentle movement, followed by another gentle length etc.

Obviously you need to pay due heed to medical advice but I have found most doctors to be woefully lacking in ability to advise effectively on exercise. Physiotherapists tend to be much more switched on to that aspect.

[SirRobert in reply to NieceByMarriage]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.