“I feel worse when I do the suggested recumbent exercises, like the recumbent bike or rower. What gives?”
The first thing any doctor will tell you about starting an exercise protocol with POTS is that recumbent exercise is the best to start with. However, if you’re anything like me, you might find that you feel WORSE when doing these exercises. In fact, my first ever POTS symptoms started after spin classes, whereas I could run or elliptical fine. So what gives?
I can’t find any scientific statements on this directly related to POTS, but first and foremost, let me reiterate to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
My best guess (based on consulting some friends in medicine and exercise science) is that something about the heart working as hard as it is with less of the body involved means that less of the body is getting blood. Perhaps the gravity is pulling the blood down when sitting on the recumbent and rower more than it is when running, because the blood is continually moving to all parts of the body when running (??) I’m prepared to be entirely wrong, so if you have a real answer PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.
xo
Pink Salt Collective 