Should You Exercise With Shingles?

Shingles is a rash caused by the varicella-zoster or herpes zoster virus. It can be painful and potentially contagious.

If you can tolerate exercising while you have shingles, it can help relieve stress. It can be helpful to know what types of exercises may be most beneficial during your recovery and how you can ensure you do not transmit the virus to others.

Always be sure not to overdo it, though. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about how much exercise you can do.

The same virus that causes shingles also causes chickenpox, Mayo Clinic says.

If you get chickenpox once, it lies dormant in your body. It can reactivate as shingles, causing symptoms such as skin-related pain, fluid-filled blisters, itching or tingling, and numbness.

Shingles is most common among people ages 60 years and older, those who had chickenpox before they were 12 months old, those with a weakened immune system, and those who have not been vaccinated for shingles, according to MedlinePlus.

Shingles usually goes away in two to five weeks. Treatment includes medications, rest, and warm and cold compresses.

Shingles can be transmitted to people who come in contact with open blisters and who have not had the virus.

In addition to treatment your doctor may prescribe, exercise can help reduce stress and maintain good health when you have shingles.

Pain and skin eruptions from shingles can leave you feeling tired and weak, however, which may make strenuous exercise difficult. Instead, try lower-impact activities. The National Institute on Aging recommends activities that include:

• Walking
• Stretching
• Gardening

A widely circulated research review published in the early 2000s also shows that practicing tai chi, the Chinese martial art of movements and breathing techniques, can ward off shingles and boost the immune system.

What you wear while exercising matters, too. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing loose-fitting cotton or linen clothing to avoid opening scabs or further irritating your skin. It also recommends covering your rash and applying calamine lotion after your blisters have scabbed over. Soaking in an oatmeal bath can help relieve symptoms, too.

While shingles is not contagious to those who have had chickenpox, it is contagious to those who have not. When it comes to exercise, this means it may be best to avoid group exercise settings, such as a gym, when you have shingles. Also avoid contact with pregnant people, babies younger than 12 months, and people with compromised immune systems.

Before embarking on any new exercise routine, be sure to speak with your doctor about what is best for you and your situation.