Lupus and Physical Activity: Allies in Need | Get information

Maria is a 42-year-old woman who is silently living with a chronic autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus or SLE), diagnosed more than 20 years ago. Lupus has an unpredictable nature that combines moments of lethargy and activation (called flares) that provide no signs or warnings, and is characterized by a disproportionate autoimmune response that can affect and cause damage to various organs and systems such as joints and joints. skin, kidney or cardiovascular system. In fact, cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in people with lupus.

The word “fatigue” could define Maria’s perception of life and her daily tasks. For Mary, the spoon theory provides a perfect analogy to lupus. According to this theory, the number of spoons corresponds to available energy, and people with lupus will have fewer spoons than other people of the same sex and age who do not have the disease. Therefore, in order to cope with daily activities, Maria has to plan which activities to use these spoons for and which activities she does not have the energy for. All this, in addition to the past years of illness, motherhood and work, alleviates the chronic feeling of fatigue from which Maria suffers.

In this context, physical activity and exercise have long been contraindicated in people with lupus due to the false assumption that exercise increases fatigue. This may have contributed to the fact that people with SLE have significantly lower levels of physical fitness compared to healthy people of the same age. But science has proven that physical exercise not only does not increase fatigue, but also consistently reduces it. We now know that exercise gives energy, not takes it away. In addition, exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness, reduces symptoms of depression, and improves quality of life without causing side effects or increasing disease activity.

To provide actionable guidance to physicians and other professionals working to improve the health of Maria and the millions of people with SLE around the world, an international working group has developed, for the first time, a consensus document that includes Physical Activity and Exercise Guidelines for People with SLE, summarized below Here:

1. People living with lupus should be educated about the expected benefits of physical activity and exercise.
2. Physical activity is recommended for all people with SLE.
3. In the event of an outbreak or moderate to high disease activity, it should be assessed after medical examination; In these cases, avoiding long periods of sedentary behavior may be a good strategy to start with.
4. The level of physical activity should be assessed using special questionnaires or the number of steps per day.
5. Physical activity should be tailored in frequency and intensity to each individual, taking into account their abilities, preferences and comorbidities in order to achieve long-term adherence.
6. Unless otherwise stated, all people with SLE with inactive disease or mild disease activity should gradually implement WHO recommendations (150–300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity associated with muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days per week).

Of course, to avoid risks during physical activity, people with SLE should take into account some specific features of this disease:

1. In the case of osteonecrosis or Jaccoud’s syndrome, before starting physical activity, you should be examined by a specialist (rheumatologist, orthopedist or sports doctor).
2. When exercising outdoors, special attention should be paid to sun protection, and in the presence of Raynaud’s phenomenon, the use of clothing that protects from the cold is recommended.
3. Exercise, which carries a high risk of injury, should be performed with caution in people with SLE who are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications.
4. In the event of an acute outbreak, possible contraindications to physical activity and exercise should be reconsidered.
5. During exacerbations of the joints, it is recommended to avoid damage to the inflamed joints.

It is important that all lupus professionals are aware of these new recommendations on physical activity in order to offer Maria and more than 70,000 other people in Spain the best treatment, in which physical activity should take center stage.

FIND This is the space of EL PAÍS SALUD, where we will talk about those aspects related to physical activity, sports, physical and mental health. Physical activity and sport are part of the culture of all civilizations and play a fundamental role in the health of society at all levels, both physical and mental, at any age, from childhood to old age, in both men and women. Physical activity and sport sciences have attempted to expand scientific knowledge about the importance of movement and exercise to the body, as well as the processes that explain why certain adaptations, modifications, or changes occur at different levels (physiological, anatomical, motor). emotional or cognitive). For all these reasons, this space strives to find scientific explanations that justify and justify the beneficial reasons for physical activity and sport. Additionally, it will attempt to discuss and debunk certain myths or false beliefs that exist in society on specific topics of exercise and health.

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