Curtis Harwell and Kelli Richardson Discuss Medical Conditions and Exercising

Question: Is it safe to exercise with a medical condition?

Answer:

It depends on your medical condition, but most of the time exercise is not only OK, it will improve your condition if you approach it in the right way. You should always talk to your doctor and get medical clearance if you have any medical issues. Some of the situations that may warrant a doctor's visit include:

• Heart problems or high blood pressure
• If you're over 65 and starting an exercise program
• If you've been sedentary for over a year
• If you have diabetes
• If you're pregnant
• If you have problems with dizziness or fainting
• You're recovering from an injury or illness
• If you've been diagnosed with any type of medical condition or illness

When you do see your doctor, there are some questions you can ask to make sure you leave with all the information you need:

• What exercises or activities should I avoid?
• Are there any exercises that can help my situation?
• Will my medication affect my workouts?
• How do I get started?
• Do I need physical therapy before starting an exercise program?

Your doctor can help you figure out what exercises or activities you should avoid, but he or she may not be able to give you specific advice about how to set up a workout program. Once you get some general guidelines, you might consider hiring a personal trainer who has experience with your issues to get started with a specific program. When you're working around an injury or illness, you may have to be creative with your workouts, something an expert can help you with.