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• Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-01 11:05:31 By Anna M
• Hi! I'm looking for advice. From one source I heard that intensive physical activity is detrimental for RP, but few doctors said that it's not true. I have RP and astigmatism. I want to start regular fitness exercises. What do you think about it? Thanks in advance :-)
  
  Anna

• Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-01 22:48:15 By james n
• I also do regular exercise in the morning, and i don't think it affect my RP.
  
  Exercise is good for our body to boost the blood flow in our body.
  
  
  

• Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-02 02:13:58 By Darran Z
• As far as I know, fitness isn't detrimental to RP. It might be beneficial to the effect that the vessels in the eye are attenuated. Increased oxygen to the eye due to poor circulation certainly won't damage your retina. I'm not sure where you heard that is was detrimental.
  
  Darran

• Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-02 05:57:47 By Janice K
• Hi, I've been to a lot of doctors. I am a doctor (not an eye doctor though, a pediatrician). I swim on a swim team 4 times a week for almost 15 years. There are doctors on my team also. I've never heard anyone say that physical activity is bad for RP. Some eye conditions mean you have to be careful with contact sports, but otherwise I've heard that aerobic exercise is good. I'd double check with your eye doctor and see what he/she says about your particular situation. I'd like to put in a plug for swimming, especially for people with eye trouble. No little white balls to chase. You can get tinted goggles or swim indoors to help with glare. You can also get prescription goggles to help a little bit. The black line down the center on the pool is good for people with some vision. Also, the pool deck is very guide-dog friendly. It feel good. There are all levels of swimmers on www.usms.org. Just a thought. Good luck!

• Re: Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-02 12:16:48 By Reyne K
• That is a good question about exercise. I have specifically asked the very same question to two retina specialists as I am addicted to working out and lifting free weights. They both said that it had no effect on eye sight. Of course, if one has just had ocular surgery, then it would be a contraindicated until your doctor said it was o.k. If anything, the exercise, would get the blood circulating and get some of the nutrients to your eyes. I have read that this is one of the problems with people who have RP---the absorption of vitamins and minerals is not as good in the eye area compared to people with normal eyesight. So go ahead, get that oxygen flowing, get rid of any depression, and you will look and feel better! :)
  
  ~Reyne

• Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-02 20:10:36 By Beth M
• I work out regularly on an elliptical and with free weights. I find that it enhances my vision when I work out for some reason. The only precaution that I was given was to not lift too heavy of weights because my retina's are weak and there could be a tear if I'm not careful. I've been working out for many, many years with no ill effects.
  Beth:)

• Blood Pressure?
• Posted: 2008-03-03 00:05:00 By Jonathan R
• Yeah, I would think that anyone who actually said that would just be referring to the potential hazards of the temporary increase in blood pressure associated with physical activity, which I guess could be a problem for people with weak blood vessels in their eyes.
  
  Although, the only time I ever feel discomfort in the back of my eye is when I do a lot of bending over, where my head in at or below waist level. But if I just avoid that, then I can do very physically intense activities for long periods of time and never feel any such discomfort.

• Re: Blood Pressure?
• Posted: 2008-03-03 13:25:36 By Anna M
• Thanks for all these advices. I want to unsure i can do fitness. I think that doctor who said fitness can be detrimental may simply mistook retinitis pigmentosa with detached retina.
  
  Anna

• Re: Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-07 10:06:14 By andrew b
• I heard that people with Ushers/RP (Johns Hopkins) are very unlikely to have detached retinas. That something about RP makes them very strongly attached. I had asked because my dad has had 2 detached retinas.

• Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-05 12:14:09 By susan s
• I once heard that weight lifting was not good as it constricts your arteries. susie

• Re: Do RPers can do fitness?
• Posted: 2008-03-05 12:14:13 By susan s
• I once heard that weight lifting was not good as it constricts your arteries. susie