August 2025

Working With Chronic Disease

Diagnosis of chronic disease has skyrocketed over the last 40 years. According to the National Cancer Institute, this is defined as "a disease or condition that usually lasts for 3 months or longer and may get worse over time." We have seen many medical conditions among Total Results clients, but some of the most common chronic debilities that we have encountered are osteoarthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. These chronic conditions certainly bring with them their own set of challenges, such as obtaining medical clearance from a physician and helping the client to overcome their underlying fears related to exercising with these conditions, but we have been very successful at helping clients with chronic disease to improve their health and quality of life. As we will discuss further, there is both a genetic and lifestyle component that can increase your risk for developing a chronic disease.

Osteoarthritis is probably the most common chronic condition that Total Results clients encounter. This can be characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. Osteoarthritis is more common in people who have performed repetitive movements for long periods of time, or if they have suffered a previous injury to a joint (for example, if you have sustained knee cartilage or ligament damage you are more likely to experience osteoarthritis later in life). The older we get, the greater the likelihood that we will experience osteoarthritis in one or more of our joints. In your Total Results workouts, the first two repetitions of each exercise serve as a warm-up to lubricate your joints and reduce pain (it's also why we typically perform the Leg Curl exercise before the Leg Press, so that your knees are limbered up). It is our job as instructors to find the client's safe and pain-free range of motion, so that the musculature can be stimulated while minimizing joint pain.

Heart disease comes in many different forms; in fact, two of our current clients had significant heart procedures performed prior to starting at Total Results. Obviously, the heart is the most important muscle in the body; however, you cannot volitionally control the contraction of your cardiac muscle. Skeletal muscle is the only type of muscle tissue that you contract at will, and while most cardiologists require a patient to perform cardiac rehabilitation before giving them clearance to begin or resume exercise, I believe that strength training is the most effective form of cardiac rehabilitation. Helping doctors to understand the nature of our program has always been a big challenge, but it is important to build trust with the client and communicate effectively with their doctor. We will work with the cardiologist to formulate the best course of action and ease the client into the program.

Diabetes can take on two forms: Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood or young adulthood, and is characterized by the pancreas producing an insufficient amount of insulin. Type II diabetes occurs later in life, and usually involves the body being unable to produce enough insulin or an inability to use the insulin it produces. High blood sugar is a corresponding factor. Prediabetes is a precursor to Type II diabetes, and many clients have come to us after being diagnosed with the condition. The good news is that Type I diabetes can be managed (although not completely reversed), and Type II diabetes can be completely reversed with deliberate action and lifestyle changes. High intensity strength training is important from a standpoint of building muscle and changing your body composition, but also going to muscular failure will help to reduce glycogen (stored form of carbohydrate) stores in your liver and muscle cells. This will help you to improve your insulin sensitivity and level out your blood sugar.

We have also worked with clients that have autoimmune conditions. This is when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. A few conditions that we have encountered include Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Celiac Disease. When clients suffering from these diseases are dealing with flare-ups, it can greatly impact their workouts. Sometimes they cannot workout at all during a flare-up, while other times their strength and endurance are significantly compromised. Communication between client and instructor is paramount, and we must treat each occurrence individually. There is no one-size-fits-all plan when this happens, but we adapt the best that we can.

There is plenty that we can recommend to help you if you are battling a chronic disease. You must realize that chronic disease doesn't happen overnight, and an immediate reversal is unrealistic. It is important to recognize that a change in your daily habits is essential. This involves not just incorporating high-intensity exercise into your life, but also improving your sleep habits, managing stress, and adding in low-level movement several times per week. What you put into your body makes all the difference in the world; avoid inflammatory foods such as seed oils, processed foods, and sugar. In order to preserve your physical independence and build strength, you must lift heavy things! Stay educated about your disease and other chronic diseases; we frequently give book recommendations that you will find helpful.

Together we can reverse your chronic disease! It all starts with a single step.