Exercising with IgAN

Exercise is a common topic in the IgAN communities I’m part of.

Is it safe to exercise with IgAN?

People often ask what types of exercise are safe, how much activity is appropriate, and whether it is still possible to stay active with IgAN. There is no single answer that applies to everyone. For me, ongoing conversations with my nephrologist have helped me understand what my body can handle and how to adjust my workouts safely.

How my exercise habits changed

Fifteen years ago, I was very active. I enjoyed Thai boxing, running, dancing, and intense cardio workouts at the gym. About ten years ago, I stopped Thai boxing because it was considered too high-impact for me. I shifted to ball hockey, ice hockey, dancing, and modified gym workouts.

Five years ago, I gave up ball hockey, ice hockey, and running because they had become too hard on my body. I also started changing the way I exercised at the gym, using lighter weights and taking a gentler approach. For someone who had always been on the go and loved intense workouts, this was difficult to accept.

Dance remained an important outlet. During the pandemic, I choreographed Bollywood dances to music I loved and hosted a weekly dance Zoom with family and friends. It lifted my mood and helped me stay active while gyms were closed.

Listening to my body supports IgAN

Over the past year, as my kidney function has declined, I have noticed a more dramatic change in my ability to exercise. This has been the hardest adjustment because even intense cardio now affects me negatively, including dance, which has been part of my life since childhood.

I found a gym class that was essentially choreographed dance exercise, but after each class my body felt painfully sore and exhausted. I knew I had to stop. More recently, I made the difficult decision to decline a dance performance request at a family member’s wedding reception because even practicing would have been too fatiguing.

Recovery now takes much longer after a workout, and my energy is quickly depleted. I have had to listen to my body—and my kidneys—and accept that I can no longer do exercise that feels too taxing. At first, I tried to keep adapting my workouts, but that was difficult because my instinct has always been to go full force. Eventually, I realized I needed activities that were naturally lower intensity and relied more on my own body weight.

Trying lower-impact IgAN-friendly activities

Do I miss the way I used to work out? Absolutely. I resisted at first, but I eventually tried yoga and Pilates. I never imagined I would enjoy either, yet I have learned to embrace both.

Exercise also does not have to happen only in a gym. I walk quite a bit, and having two dogs helps get me out the door. I still try to stay active in some way, while also recognizing when I need to rest.

What’s the bottom line?

As with many things related to IgAN, exercise needs and restrictions vary from person to person. What is safe can depend on factors such as kidney disease stage, creatinine levels, energy levels, symptoms, and overall health.

• Talk with your nephrologist about your current activity level and exercise goals
• Adjust workouts as your body’s needs change
• Pay attention to recovery time, fatigue, soreness, and other signals from your body
• Choose activities that help you stay active without pushing beyond what feels safe.