FAQ About Exercise and autoimmune disease
Welcome to Austin Muscle Restoration’s (AMR) Autoimmune and Injury Gym. We are an alternative wellness studio specifically created to help people like me exercise. Who am I? I am gym co-owner Shannon Lea Pickering, aka, The Autoimmune Foodie. I love to lift weights, run and spin but when I developed Systemic Lupus and Fibromyalgia, I had to stop doing the activities I loved for many years. My husband Brandon O’Connor and his friend Stephen Dansevich were personal trainers and certified muscle system specialists. I started working with them, and they were game-changers in my recovery and return to the gym. Brandon and Stephen have a passion for working with those of us with low thresholds and autoimmune disease. We are deeply honored to launch our Autoimmune Gym so we can serve the Austin autoimmunity community. We believe everyone must exercise and at AMR, we are making that a reality by working with those who are most underserved by the fitness industry.
Today, I sat down with our Exercise Director, Stephen Dansevich, to ask him some questions.
FAQ about Exercise and Autoimmune Disease.
Q: What are autoimmune diseases?
A: Autoimmune diseases are characterized by over-activity of the immune system, which will then attack & the body’s own tissues, causing inflammation & damage to nerves, muscles, bones, joints, skin, & other parts of the body. There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases (at least), with the most widely known including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, and Celiac’s disease.
Q: What are some common symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
A: Symptoms can vary widely depending on the type of autoimmune disease, but the most common include fatigue, joint pain and swelling, skin problems, abdominal pain and digestive issues, recurring fever, and swollen glands. Symptoms can suddenly flare up (due to triggers such as psychological, physical, and environmental stressors) and then subside.
Q: How are autoimmune diseases treated?
A: Treatment can vary depending on the type of disease but often includes medication to suppress the immune system or reduce inflammation or stress, disease modifying drugs, dietary modifications, physical therapy and lifestyle modifications
Q: Can exercise help with symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
A: The effects of autoimmune diseases can make exercise difficult, but when done properly exercise can help with symptom management by increasing the production of anti-inflammatory compounds and chemicals that enhance brain function, improve blood circulation, increase physical energy, combat depression and enhance mood. Exercise can also maintain critical bone density and help with stability and control of the neuromuscular system.
Q: What’s the right amount or type of exercise for someone with an autoimmune disease?
A: This is specific to the individual, the current state of their disease, and their current capabilities. Exercise involves physical stress to the body and someone with an autoimmune disease has a lower threshold for physical stress. It is critical to “dose” exercises properly from the start and to design a program of progression that doesn’t violate an individual’s threshold. We determined thresholds based on the overall status of disease and how an individual feels on any given day. We consider general thresholds as well as how those thresholds vary day to day. This requires a good understanding of the physics and mechanics of exercise and how they relate to muscle and joint function, as well as an ability to modify any exercise in real time based on the sensations it is creating.
About Stephen Dansevich, CMSS, RTSm, MATs
Are you interested in personal training with Stephen? Stephen is not only one of the world's best personal trainers, he is also a mastery expert of exercise mechanics, as well as a twice-certified muscle and joint system specialist. Stephen custom creates 1:1 workout programs to fit clients of any age and fitness need. He specializes in working with clients who have autoimmune conditions, chronic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, surgeries, or other conditions that make exercise a challenge. His passion is to provide exercise to anyone of any fitness level and insists that no one feels judged for their fitness level, age, size or shape. Stephen's clients range from 12-92 and he custom doses exercise to each client. He also enjoys working with people who are intimated by exercise and commercial gyms and offers a non-judgmental and accepting safe space for anyone to start an exercise program.
We welcome all fitness levels, ages, body shapes and sizes. No matter what your exercise challenges are, you are welcomed here unconditionally!
Stephen doesn't focus on what you CAN'T do. His focus is on what you CAN do.
Stephen meets every client where they are
Stephen designs exercise programs to meet each client’s needs and goals
Stephen doses and progresses exercise appropriately to each client’s ability.
About AMR
Our expertise is custom dosing exercise to fit your needs at every visit.
Austin Muscle Restoration is an alternative wellness studio specifically created to help people exercise who…
didn’t know exercise was possible for them
desire to workout safely to increase strength, comfort and range of motion
have Significant challenges or barriers to exercise
who fear being injured or judged at a commercial gym
The Autoimmune & Injury Gym is a dream come true for AMR's owners, husband and wife team Brandon and Shannon. The dream began with Shannon's epic journey to wellness. Shannon suffered with lupus and fibromyalgia and lost her ability to continue doing the weight training she loved. She is also a Breast Cancer survivor who needed exercise assistance post-chemo, surgery and radiation due to fatigue, muscle atrophy and loss of range of motion. She desperately desired to work with a personal trainer who understood her challenges, didn't make her feel judged or inadequate, and had the expertise to help her get back to her previous weight training ability. After years of not working out, she is about to max out the Nautalis Leg Press! Woo Hoo!
