8 Tips to Help You Stay Active Through the Holidays

Staying active when you have spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can help alleviate some symptoms. But over the holidays it can be difficult to find the time to do so.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of tips to help you find time to exercise throughout the holiday season based on information from prevention.com.

Do Some Light Exercise and Stretches First Thing

Make it the first thing on your to-do list for the day. Whether you do it before or after breakfast is up to you, but if you do it first thing in the morning it’s a chore out of the way, leaving the rest of the day free to celebrate the festivities.

Long-term exercise was found to benefit mice models of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), providing important clues for designing rehabilitation programs in patients.

Exercise With Friends

The holidays are a time for being social and catching up with friends and family, so why not combine that with exercise. Grab some friends and head out for a stroll, or if you have relatives visiting, show them your city.

A team of researchers from Denmark found that a cycle training program was able to modestly improve oxidative capacity in patients with spinal muscular atrophy type III.

Make an Exercise Appointment

Your diary may be full of social engagements, so you might need to schedule exercise the same way you’d schedule a doctor’s appointment.  Treat it as an appointment, though, which means no skipping out!

Learn more about how physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation may help to improve posture, prevent joint immobility, and slow muscle weakness and atrophy in some cases of SMA.

Have Fun

The holiday season is all about having fun, so why do an exercise that bores you? Find something you enjoy doing or try something new that excites you. Staying active doesn’t have to be boring.

Learn all about the new exoskeleton designed to specifically give children who suffer from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) a chance to stand up and walk.

Positive Attitude

Have a positive attitude towards exercise. Think about the good it’s doing you and how great you’ll feel afterward. Remember that exercise is keeping you strong and healthy.

Read about the four different areas of SMA management.

Don’t Be Hard on Yourself

If you’re feeling under the weather or fatigued and really can’t face exercising, or if you’ve only been able to exercise for half an hour instead of your usual hour, don’t be hard on yourself. Listen to your body–it knows when you need to take a break, so you can come back stronger next time.

Read about the four types of spinal muscular atrophy here. 

Break Exercise Up

If you’re so busy you can’t schedule in an hour at the gym, no problem. Try doing three 10-minute slots of exercises at home or at the office. Try to fit in some exercise into your really busy days whenever you can.

Long-term exercise was found to benefit mice models of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), providing important clues for designing rehabilitation programs in patients.

Set Some Holiday Goals

Aim to nail that stretch or lift your arms so many times between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Give yourself a reward if you meet your goals.

A team of researchers from Denmark found that a cycle training program was able to modestly improve oxidative capacity in patients with spinal muscular atrophy type III.

SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.