Movement as Medicine: A Testimony About Taking Charge of Your Health

In March of 2022, my life took a turn that I did not expect. A month before that, I was on a short vacation with a friend of mine and I ended up in the emergency room. When the same incident occurred a month later, I discovered that what I thought to be a reaction to caffeine was the beginning of a neurological disorder called functional neurological disorder (FND). The main characteristics of this disorder include involuntary muscle movements that can mimic seizures. I began experiencing involuntary movement episodes several times a day and I had to take a Leave of Absence from my job in Home Health Speech Therapy. FND was so debilitating for me that for the first two months I could not even drive my car. The disorder completely disrupted my life.

The journey to diagnosis was exhaustive and worrisome. I had to have two EEG tests done and dealt with doctors who didn’t listen to me or just threw medications at me left and right. I learned that many doctors like to “pass the buck” when it comes to FND because it is a complicated disorder that involves both physiology and psychology. However, after meeting with a neuromuscular specialist in the Houston Medical Center, I learned much more about FND and was informed that not only would medication and psychotherapy be beneficial for me, but that I could even receive specialized physical therapy.

One thing about having a fitness professional for a mother was that throughout my life I heard one certain phrase over and over again: “Movement is Medicine.” But it wasn’t until this time in my life that I began to see just how true that would become for me. On my first day of physical therapy, I worked through balance exercises while practicing deep breathing at the same time. After two weeks, I learned from my therapist that the reason for doing this was to rewire neuromuscular activity in my body so that I could regain some kind of control when my episodes come on.

Another wonderful thing about having my mom as a guide was that without even knowing it, I was already doing all of the right things before even starting physical therapy. Throughout my life, I did occasional Pilates and yoga with my mother but never on my own. After my diagnosis, however, I realized how important movement must be in my everyday life. When I began practicing meditation, yoga, and qigong as regularly as I could, these low-impact, meditative exercise styles were greatly beneficial in helping me to override my episodes to some extent. I learned that I have to stimulate my parasympathetic nervous system to calm my overactive sympathetic nervous system. My episodes didn’t stop, but they became less intense when I practiced these light, purposeful movements.

Getting more exercise into your life does not need to look like spending four hours at the gym every day. For example, I found this fun workout called The Treadmill Strut (follow benntheredonethat on TikTok for more information) and followed it up with a yoga routine and meditation as a cool down. Now, I have been incorporating some Pilates mat work exercises that my mother taught me that require no equipment or apparatus. These are specific exercises done to strengthen my core and I can do them every day no matter where I am. Besides firming and tightening my abs, this deep internal work also is bolstering my spine to keep me healthy for years to come. When I go to Grace Studios and work out on the reformer and other apparatus, I can see even more benefits. When we work out in tandem, it leaves me feeling amazing afterward.

Now and then, muscle shakes will occur while I am on the treadmill, but by taking a moment to breathe and carefully move through it my shakes will settle down and I can continue my workout.

The positive effect that Pilates, yoga, qigong, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training have had on me has been life-changing.

Movement truly is medicine.