Illness and exercise

If I'm ill for more than two or three days, one annoying side effect is shoulder pain.

How come?

If I'm too unwell to get any exercise, then I don't go down the gym/allotment or do my weight exercises at home.  It usually only takes three or four days without exercise for the muscles to start losing tone, and as soon as that happens, the neck/shoulder pain kicks in.

The wretched norovirus around Christmas had me for two weeks without any exercise.  I still hadn't quite got back to my normal level of fitness when I got a bad cold.  Result?  Yep, the neck and shoulder are painful.  I'm working gently down the gym, but it takes time and a willingness to keep exercising when I ache.  (I stop immediatly if it gets painful - it would be stupid not to - but I'll keep going though a low grade ache)

I guess I'm posting this mainly for those of my friends who have health problems that are aided by exercise:

Remember that if the exercise makes your problem improve, then stopping exercise will make it get worse again.  It isn't a one off cure - you have to do it regularly.

A little exercise is better than none.  When I was first recovering from the norovirus, I had to use my weights at a third of what I normally use - I kept it gentle and easy until I was well enough for more.  If you can't walk for half an hour a day, then start with five minutes a day.

Exercise has the handy side effect of improving your overall mood.