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Make Your Move
“ I ’ m in late-stage multiple system atrophy , and I ’ m bedbound most of the time . So for me , there ’ s a fine line between exercising and keeping moving . I ’ m at a point where it ’ s okay to do other things , to just keep my limbs moving . Exercise was making my fatigue and other symptoms worse . But I still try to move — the commode isn ’ t right next to the bed so I have to get up and over to it . And I do stretching in bed .”
Hadley Ferguson
gripping the floor . Dystonia can happen when medication wears off , early in the morning or even with exercise . Because it can be painful and impact walking and other movement , dystonia can interfere with exercise .
Strategies
+ Opposites attract . Stretch the muscles that cramp and strengthen the ones that work opposite . With biceps dystonia , for example , you ’ d want to stretch the biceps and build up the triceps . A physical or occupational therapist can show which muscles to target and suggest massage and other non-medication treatments , where useful .