Exercise

Ataxians are famous for coming up with excuses for not exercising.  I can’t stand.  I can’t afford exercise equipment.  Blah, blah.

Allow me to make the case for exercise.

Helps with mood.  Ataxia sucks!  Exercise greatly helps with self-esteem and mood.  Better than meds.

Face it.   We’re all going to have to transfer some day. 🦽 Less weight and strength are vital.

Time.  We struggle to fill the day in advanced stages of this disease.  When you can’t drive or work, the days can get long.  Exercise fills the void.

So, expensive exercise equipment.  Free seated cardio and strength training videos available on YouTube.

Equipment:  I am lucky enough to have hand weights.  Soup cans or water bottles or body weight works.

I am lucky enough to have a therapy pool.  It is such an important part of my life that I will have a separate post about it.  I cannot stand on land, but I open every workout with a run.  I have adapted T’ai Chi, Tae Bo, and yoga for the water.  If you don’t have access to a pool, one can take handicapped transport to a Y or physical therapy facility with a pool.

Exercise is critical.  I do it daily.