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Breaking The Shackles of Peripheral Neuropathy With Exercise

Sunday, October 22, 2023

"The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it." - C.S. Lewis

I got up from the chair on the airplane with a struggle and pain shot from my tailbone area to my feet. The muscles screamed and didn't want to move. I grabbed the top of the chairs as I forced my way down the aisle to deplane. I was in Germany to get my son, but I wasn't sure how well I was going to get around...

This was my story years ago. At that time I struggled to get up from chairs... I would roll out of bed... I even had to use the strength of my arms to life me from chairs or out of the car! I was worried that this was going to be my life. I was concerned that I would be limited in how I could interact with my children and even my grandchildren in the future!

Although I was studying peripheral neuropathy, I had yet to realize that it had become a true limitation in my own life as well. That is when aspects of my search became even more personal. I had peripheral neuropathy and it was putting shackles on the life I wanted... What were my options?

I found a Secret Weapon, although it is not the only weapon I have found for peripheral neuropathy. The weapon was Exercise. In fact, exercise has the potential to manage and treat peripheral neuropathy in many powerful ways!

Although this list will be incomplete, I will list several of the benefits of exercise for neuropathy:

Nerve Cell Circulation: Blood flow has been implicated as one of the causes of peripheral neuropathy. As we all know, blood flow is improved through exercise. This likewise improves the circulation to the nerve cells.

Improved Nerve Function: Another probable cause of peripheral neuropathy is mitochondrial damage. In cells of the body, mitochondria function as the powerplant of the cell or energy producing portion of the cell. When not working appropriately, the cell doesn't have the necessary energy to function. With exercise, many studies have shown doubling or tripling of the mitochondria in a cell - or in other words, the creation of NEW mitochondria in the cell and improved cellular function.

Stem Cell Activation: The adult stem cell is an important part of cellular health (even neurons or nerve cells). It is these cells the repair cellular damage and keep them functioning at the highest levels. But the adult stem cell ages as we age and by the age of 30 you have lost 65% of the function of the adult stem cells. Through exercise, it has been shown adult stem cells are reactivated.

Overall Body Health: Just as systemic disease can have a direct effect on nerve health - and ultimately on peripheral neuropathy, improving the overall health of the body will likewise improve nerve health. One very effective way to improve overall health is through exercise.

I could keep going, but the truth is Exercise truly is a Secret Weapon to help you free yourself from the limitations of peripheral neuropathy. I am no longer limited and exercise is one of the reasons why!