Can You Exercise with Shingles? What the Experts Advise

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Last Reviewed: Mar 21, 2025 @ 6:03 pm

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Can You Exercise with Shingles?

Stress-relieving exercises can benefit someone with a shingles outbreak, but there are situations in which exercise is not advised. Here is a look at how exercise affects shingles. You should never start an exercise regimen without first consulting your doctor.

Jump Ahead

Choose Light Physical Activity
Practice Stress Relieving Exercises
Avoid Group Exercise
Exercise Is Key to Avoiding Shingles
Exercise Boosts Respons to Shingles Vaccine
Tai Chi Boosts Immunity to Shingles in Older Adults

Choose Light Physical Activity

People experience different symptoms and degrees of severity regarding a shingles outbreak. In addition to the rash, itching, and pain accompanying shingles, some people experience flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. [1] Exercise may not be bearable for some.

The National Institute on Aging recommends light physical activities such as stretching or walking if you wish to remain active during a shingles outbreak. [2]

Practice Stress Relieving Exercises

According to the American Medical Association, stress can trigger shingles, whether it’s physical stress, such as an injury or illness, or mental stress. Stress-relieving exercises and physical activity not only help manage stress but also boost the immune system, which is crucial in fighting off the shingles virus.

Harvard Health suggests yoga, tai chi, and qigong to help reduce stress. Breathing accompanied by slow, flowing movements helps to relieve stress while enhancing balance and flexibility. They advise checking with your doctor before beginning. [4]

Make sure to skip those poses that will chafe the rash.

Avoid Group Exercise

If you have an active case of shingles, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises avoiding contact with susceptible people until the lesions are dried and scabbed. Susceptible people would include pregnant women who never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, premature or low birth rate infants, and people with weakened immune systems. [5]

During an active shingles outbreak, it’s important to avoid group exercises that put you in close proximity to others. This includes activities like spinning classes, contact sports, and swimming. Being cautious and aware of these guidelines can help prevent the spread of shingles.

Additionally, shingles are linked to a weakened immune system, so group exercises may also risk exposing you to another virus that could further compromise your immune system. [6]

Exercise Is Key to Avoiding Shingles

People who consistently maintain a healthy immune system lower their risk of getting shingles, and regular exercise is key. Harvard Health advises that the way to keep your immune system functioning well is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get the right amount of sleep, and reduce stress. [7]

Exercise Boosts Response to Shingles Vaccine

If you have received a shingles vaccine, exercise may help improve its effectiveness. A study published in Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics suggested that “Chronic exercise or high levels of physical activity have been shown to be related to improved vaccination responses in older adults.” [8]

Tai Chi Boosts Immunity to Shingles in Older Adults

Another interesting study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, found that the traditional Chinese exercise of Tai Chi helps ward off shingles two-fold. The study, published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, showed that regular practice of Tai Chi not only helps to increase immunity to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that causes shingles it also boosts the immune response to the vaccine.

References

[1] WebMD – “What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?“
[2] National Institute on Aging – “Shingles.“
[3] American Medical Association – “What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About the Shingles Virus.“
[4] Harvard Health – “Six Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress.“
[5] Centers for Disease Control – “Shingles.“
[6] Mayo Clinic – “Shingles.“
[7] Harvard Health – “Answers to Common Questions about Shingles.”
[8] Edwards, K. M., & Booy, R. (2013). Effects of exercise on vaccine-induced immune responses. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 9(4), 907–910. https://doi.org/10.4161/hv.23365
[9] National Institutes of Health – News Releases – “Tai Chi Boosts Immunity to Shingles Virus in Older Adults, NIH-Sponsored Study Reports.“

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