does anyone find doing more exercise help with raynauds? (mine in hands only at mo), thinking bout getting exercise bike

[sandycharlie]

[Blue-Bunny]

It *is* supposed to help and I would recommend it as the logic is sound. It's just contradictory for me. I can only do exercise in short bursts, so thirty seconds at a time and not particularly quickly. The more pressure or vibrations I put through my hands/fingers/feet the number they get.

So if you have secondary Raynauds (where vibrations are 'usually' associated with) then exercise might need to be restricted. I'd highly recommend Tai Chi as it focuses on circulation.

[Kuhu]

As I said on your other post, I find swinging my arms round "sends blood to my fingers" and this helps a lot.

[poole_odyssey]

Morning

I run three times a week between 3 - 5 miles and it definately helps as it improves circulation. Even in the bitter cold weather I can go out running without a problem. My Rheumy has always said dont stop running.

[darkdreamer]

I go to the gym a couple of times a week but it doesn't help at all with my raynauds. By the time I've walked to the gym, I can't feel my hands or feet and in this weather it takes at least 20 mins to get the circulation going again. I also have to wear my gloves for the first 20 mins on the cross trainer as the metal is cold. Though I do get warm, my body temperature drops quickly and by the time I get home again, I have to have a very hot bath to warm up.

[steve1969]

Hi, I exercise almost everyday and like you i hoped by improving my fitness levels it would also help my raynauds, my honest experince is that while on paper it should, the realality is for me it hasnt? I run various distances (incl a marathon in scotland 18months ago). yes i was freezing! but none of the training improved my raynauds? infact, i believe that when your training hard the blood supply is taken away from the extremities and used where its greater needed. That said, I love exercise and wouldnt stop as I feel great.

[stevieboy]

yes i swim at a nice warm health club and that means i am warm when i come out and can turn heating off .I also like walking .If i keep warm by moving my hat and gloves come off .Try it it works indoors i start cleaning to keep warm

[nettie545]

I know that vibration of any kind makes my hands and feet worse. I do have an excercise bike that you can use sitting down, so that helps with the circulation and it's not so much vibrating. Stretching exercises and swimming are the best for mine I know.

[sandycharlie]

thanks for all replies, i have had a go on my friends bike an wow not good... u are rite the vibration on the handle bars do make it worse...will def b keeping to the walking...and swinging and shaking my hands does help....thank everyone...take care xx

[sandraj]

I have always been told it does help and so last Summer I decided to diet, to get to my ideal weight and to exercise every day - Now I am over 2 stone lighter and much fitter and it seems to have helped with the Raynauds as I spent New Year in Lapland!!!! Lots of special equipment but so worth it. I am going to note all the makes of my equipment - gloves, socks, boots etc - and do a post on the forum.

[Thelma]

I truly believe exercise helps any condition. I have been into physical fitness consistently for 32 years; have a library of videos/dvds for muscle toning, aerobics, yoga, stretch routines, step aerobics, body bands, and a jump rope. With age and now having the Scleroderma and Raynauds and the complications of PAH and CHF, my levels of activities have declined but I still enjoy making the effort and it helps so much. Some days I have more pain, so I'll perform stretch tapes or yoga, and my muscles and tension seem to stretch out accordingly. At the end of the routine, I usually feel better than at the beginning. Walking is excellent, however, weight-baring exercises and yoga are excellent measures to keep the body as limber and strong as possible. A combination of healthy tactics can give positive benefits; proper nutrition, ample rest, daily exercise, healthy friendships/relationships, promoting calmness and being mindful to keep stress levels down as much as possible, meditating and being around positive and overall-happy people who keep drama out of their lives are all great attractions and practices for being stronger, more hopeful, happier and more comfortable. I wish you the best with your selections and add-ons for healthy living.

[overnighthearingloss]

Its a lot of money to consider but an electric bike can be a useful way of getting back into exercise. The electric motor will take over when you have had enough. But being a bike there is the option to pedal. With the effort removed you will find that you do make use of the pedals. With luck over time exercise capability may improve. Then you may find that the battery is less essential. But still worth having.

Not cheap but Tesco do one, tesco.com/direct/hopper-20-... and you can use the tesco points to bring down the cost further. Sports Direct online also have the same type of bike a little cheaper at the moment

sportsdirect.com/Cycling/e-...

[BarbJ]

I'm late coming to this one but about 15 years ago now I used to jog (I can't dignify it by calling it running!) and I got up to doing 3 miles at a time (not a lot to some but a good achievement for me) but even doing 3 miles in hot weather my feet would be as cold at the end as they were at the beginning! It's horses for courses isn't it.

I agree with a lot of what Thelma says and would love to be able to do yoga, but not a lot of use for those of us whose valve from stomach to oesophagus is permanently open as there's quite a lot of head down stuff in yoga!! But I'd definitely recommend relaxation and meditation, even spiritual healing (not a good name for it as it's nothing to do with religion or ghosts). I went on a short course and truly believe that anyone can learn to do it.

Apologies to anyone who's a Reiki practitioner as i believe that some of you are natural healers, but I did Reiki one and I do not see how it is possible to become a healer just by having someone recite silent 'spells' and make signs over you. I have had healing from one Reiki practitioner and I could feel absolutely nothing. For balance I will say that I know another Reiki healer who really does channel energy, it's palpable, as it should be to my mind. It worries me that a lot of people are paying what, £25 per hour or more now, and getting nothing more than a relaxation session. Not that relaxation doesn't help but you don't have to pay to get it. Anyhow, rant over, sorry!!

My main form of exercise now is walking, but I'm afraid I don't do enough of it, but, as Thelma says, I always feel better for it when I do make the effort. I also sometimes put a CD on and dance round the house: I love it, though I do have to have frequent rests as my scleroderma has affected my lungs. I used to love disco dancing when I was young - it's liberating to me, no rules, just do your own thing, but am far too long in the tooth to go out dancing now!

I did try Tai Chi but I think that's why i couldn't take to it - patterns and rules to learn. I have too many 'must do's' at work and at home

Take care and keep warm whatever you do. And may your health remain stable.