Since they produce so many essential hormones, the adrenal glands are responsible for many of the functions we need to stay alive and healthy, including: energy production — carbohydrate, protein and fat conversion to blood glucose for energy, fluid and electrolyte balance and fat storage.
One hormone in particular, cortisol, is extremely important for keeping our body systems in balance, as well as protecting our cells. It normalizes blood sugar and regulates blood pressure.
The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency usually begin gradually. The most common symptoms are chronic, worsening fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite and weight loss. Low levels of adrenal cortisol can also result in being wiped out with exercise.
Most people think of exercise as jogging or muscle building. While these are beneficial to general good health and promote circulation and muscle strength, they are not the best solution when it comes to adrenal fatigue. In fact, wrong exercises may make adrenal fatigue worse and can trigger adrenal crashes easily.
When experiencing adrenal fatigue, the body is drained and low on energy, along with the prevalence of other numerous imbalances and hormonal dysregulations.
But exercise is an important part of the total recovery plan and if done properly, it helps the adrenals boost their function, and thus the energy state. That is why it's important to custom tailor an exercise program for the best use of limited energy resource for those with advance weakness. Over utilization of energy for exercise, even if it is good for circulation and has other health benefits, may trigger adrenal crashes.
The right intensity, amount, and frequency are all essential to a proper exercise regimen. Many are drained of energy after exercise. The tendency is to avoid it. Total absence is also undesirable except during an adrenal crash. Others would do the opposite, forcing themselves to do more, and thinking that it is beneficial. Both approaches can be wrong. The key is not to avoid exercise totally, but to have a personalized program designed specifically for the level of adrenal function. Exercise in moderation can assist circulation and oxygenation, which are essential factors to help with adrenal deficiency, without using up energy and adrenal reserves that affected individuals can not afford to lose.
After a comfortable level of reserve is accomplished and built up in the body, a gradual progression is effected so that the body can reverse its catabolic state into an anabolic state, where muscles start to rebuild and strengthen. This has to be done on a step-wise fashion deliberately and gradually. The proper program will allow the body a total healing experience, starting at the cellular level in the core of the body.
Resources:
