How to Gain Muscle Mass If You Have Lyme Disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 25,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease annually. Lyme disease spreads through tick bites to humans. Symptoms mimic those of the flu including exhaustion, swollen glands and sore joints and muscles. Without treatment, the disease may spread to the nervous system, causing pain in arms and legs among other symptoms. Long-term effects include arthritis. Patients in all stages of Lyme disease may have problems maintaining and gaining muscle mass.

Things You'll Need

• Graduated dumbbells, or
• Weight machine, or
• Gym membership

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Start off slowly. If you had been working out prior to getting sick, back off the amount of weight you lift until it is a comfortable amount. A workout may be painful, particularly because of the muscle pain caused by Lyme disease, but it should not be intolerable. Choose a weight you can lift about 10 times without getting fatigued or experience pain.

• 2

  Build up the number of repetitions and then the weight you use to lift. Start with just one set of 8 to 12 reps, two or three times a week. After you have increased to three sets each time, then start adding weight. When you increase the amount you lift, decrease the number of reps for each set. If you cannot lift 10 times without getting tired, decrease the weight again. Even if you develop arthritis as a result of the Lyme disease, gradually progressing to heavier weight may be beneficial for building muscle mass.

• 3

  Include aerobic exercise, which helps tone muscles. Gentle walking for 20 minutes three times a week is a good way to start. If you were more active before getting Lyme disease, start off at this pace and gradually add time and speed. You may need to break up your routine into smaller pieces for best effect. For instance, instead of jogging four miles every morning, jog two miles in the morning and two more at night.

• 4

  Eat protein. Protein helps build muscles and so is an important part of your post-disease diet. Consume lean red meat, nuts, eggs, fish and chicken, and take in more calories than you burn. The US Department of Agriculture food pyramid recommends at least 5 to 6 oz. of protein daily for the average person.