Staying Active During the Pandemic with a Little Help from Tech

Staying active can help you to manage multiple sclerosis (MS) by helping to reduce the severity and frequency of many symptoms. For example, fatigue is my worst symptom and my narcolepsy doesn’t make it any better, but a regular workout routine has reduced my exhaustion.

I love the gym, but during the pandemic, visiting one is not an option, much less a wise option. Staying home has forced me to experiment with different methods to still get a good workout. Fitness phone apps, YouTube videos, and Pinterest-sourced workouts have helped me find my footing in at-home exercise.

Fitness phone apps

Many phone apps offer free workouts that are doable right at home with little to no equipment. For example, Nike Training Club offers cardio, strength, interval, and even yoga classes. The workouts can range from 10 to 30 minutes. If running is more your style, Couch to 5K trains you to run a 5K. Each week, you run longer intervals to build endurance and increase your distance.

YouTube

YouTube is home to a vast array of free exercise videos — Zumba, yoga, high-intensity interval training, and more. There are even many videos for MS-specific workouts. Once you find a trainer or workout style you like, subscribe to their channel to keep track of other offered workouts. Some trainers have livestream sessions so you can work out with a live class in case you miss the fitness class vibe.

Pinterest

Pinterest is one of the less well-known sources for workouts and various challenges, but I love it. Many trainers and workout influencers create different routines to follow for specific workout goals. Simply save your favorite exercise graphics to a media folder in your phone for later reference. Many trainers have social media so you can interact with the creator of the challenges and give feedback.

Friend challenges

Many of my friends have Apple Watches. We track workouts and share progress with one another by using the daily activity function of the watch I love that fitness watches and trackers allow us to interact and challenge each other even while at home. The competitive edge motivates me to stick to my workout plan.

COVID-19 complicates staying active, but it doesn’t make exercise impossible. Knowing the progressive nature of MS should motivate us to work around our obstacles. Let’s fight any temptations of laziness and lethargy, even if it’s as simple as going on a walk — anything can help!

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Note: Multiple Sclerosis 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 other 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. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.