How do Exercise Help to recover from CIDP

Physical exercise plays a vital role in CIDP treatment. It improves potential strength, reduces muscle shrinkage thereby improving the function and mobility. Once if CIDP Diagnosis is done, and found its intervention, carrying out physical exercise can improve your nerve and muscle strength. Initially, it is advised to approach a doctor before initiating an exercise plan. The patient should see that the exercises are not overdone than instructed since it may damage the myelin and axons. Physical limitations have to be taken care and it is good to avoid activities which may cause any physical injury. Muscle strengthening and aerobic conditioning are important to improve muscle force. Patients should have patience to wait till the muscle is fit to work against gravity before giving additional stress.

CIDP Patients can carry out the following progression levels of exercise:

• Passive Exercise: It involves gentle movement of body. Essential for blood circulation, range of motion and also reestablishes nerve connections, if it is on progress.
• Active Assisted Exercise: These are done with assistance and it activates the muscles, but not fit enough to lift the limb independently.
• Active Exercise (Gravity Eliminated): This involves movements like lifting the knee towards the chest lying in bed which eliminates gravity and not against gravity.
• Active Exercise (Gravity Reduced): Movements such as hip flexion, which are done against gravity, partially but not completely.
• Active Exercise (Against Gravity): This includes movement against gravity, such as hip flexion done by standing, which is done in all planes without additional resistance.
• Resistive Exercise: This is the highest level of progression and it is limited only by the human potential to produce force. Resistances may be a form of weight, resistive bands, household items, one’s own body weight, etc.