Graded Exercise and Pacing in POTS with Dr. Catherine Lewan

In this episode, Dr. Catherine Lewan, a physical therapist with personal experience of POTS and EDS, discusses the role of graded exercise and pacing in managing POTS. Dr. Lewan explains that exercise, when carefully adapted to individual needs, can provide significant benefits to POTS patients, helping to condition the autonomic and pain systems. However, it's crucial to be vigilant and listen to the body's signals to avoid exacerbating symptoms. She emphasizes creativity in exercise programs, especially when facing additional challenges such as chronic pain, dysautonomia, or comorbid conditions like long COVID. Using her own journey with POTS and a cerebrospinal fluid leak as an example, Dr. Lewan outlines the importance of starting slow, making use of trial and error to find what works, and adjusting programs to suit individual responses. Her approach involves balancing exercise with active recovery techniques to ensure the body adapts to changes gradually, offering hope even to those at the beginning of their exercise journey.