As Olive started following her eye care routine and low-iodine diet, she began to feel more energetic. She’d been cooped up at home a lot, feeling tired and worried, but now she was ready to get moving. “Bluto, I want to start exercising again,” she said one morning, as they sat on the beach. “I feel so sluggish, and I think moving my body will help me feel better. Can we go for a run later?”
Bluto hesitated for a minute. “I’m not sure, Olive,” he said. “Dr. Carter said we need to be careful with exercise. Let’s ask him first—we don’t want to make your eyes worse.” Olive nodded, a little disappointed but knowing Bluto was right. “You’re right,” she said. “I should ask Dr. Carter before I start any exercise.”
Later that day, they called Dr. Carter and asked about exercise. Dr. Carter invited them to come to his office the next day to talk about it. “Exercise is great for your overall health and your mood, but we need to be careful with the type of exercise you do,” Dr. Carter said when they arrived. “High-impact exercises like running, jumping, or heavy lifting can raise the pressure in your eye sockets, which can make your eyes bulge more and worsen the inflammation. We need to stick to gentle, low-impact exercises that won’t put pressure on your eyes.”
Olive looked a little sad. “So I can’t run anymore?” she asked. “Not right now, while your TED is active,” Dr. Carter said. “But there are plenty of other exercises you can do that are just as good for you. Let’s go over the best options for you.” He pulled out a list of recommended exercises and started explaining each one.
“First, walking,” he said. “Walking is perfect—it’s low-impact, easy on your body, and doesn’t put any pressure on your eyes. You can walk along the beach, in the park, or around the town square. Aim for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. It will help boost your energy, reduce stress, and improve your mood.”
“Second, yoga,” Dr. Carter continued. “Gentle yoga poses are great for stretching your body and calming your mind. But you need to avoid inversion poses—like headstands or downward-facing dog—because those put pressure on your eye sockets. Stick to gentle poses like cat-cow, child’s pose, and seated forward folds. You can do yoga at home or join a gentle yoga class—just make sure the instructor knows about your TED so they can modify poses for you.”
“Third, tai chi,” he said. “Tai chi is a slow, gentle martial art that focuses on breathing and movement. It’s great for reducing stress, improving balance, and increasing flexibility. It doesn’t put any pressure on your eyes, and it’s easy to learn. There are plenty of videos online that you can follow at home.”
“Fourth, light stretching,” Dr. Carter said. “Simple stretches for your neck, shoulders, and legs can help reduce tension and improve circulation. You can do these while sitting or standing—just make sure you don’t strain yourself. Avoid any stretches that involve bending over or putting pressure on your head.”
Dr. Carter also gave Olive some important tips. “Always warm up before exercising—even if it’s just 5 minutes of gentle stretching. And cool down after, too. Don’t exercise too hard—you should feel energized after, not exhausted. If you start to feel any eye pain, swelling, or dizziness, stop exercising right away and rest. And remember to stay hydrated—drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout.”
Olive felt much better after talking to Dr. Carter. “Thank you,” she said. “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to exercise at all, but these options sound great. I can’t wait to start walking along the beach again.” Bluto smiled. “I’ll walk with you every day,” he said. “And we can try yoga together at home—maybe we can find a fun video online.”
The next morning, Olive and Bluto went for their first walk along the beach. The sun was rising, and the air was cool and fresh. They walked slowly, enjoying the sound of the waves and the breeze. “This feels amazing,” Olive said, smiling. “I already feel more energized.” Bluto squeezed her hand. “I told you it would,” he said. “And we’ll keep doing this every day—together.”
Over the next few weeks, Olive stuck to her exercise routine. She walked 30 minutes a day, did gentle yoga every evening, and did light stretching in the morning. She noticed that her mood improved, her energy levels went up, and her eyes felt less puffy. “Exercise is really helping,” she told Dr. Carter at her next check-up. “I feel like a new person.” Dr. Carter smiled. “I’m so glad to hear that, Olive. Gentle exercise is a great way to support your recovery.”
【Friendly reminder】Gentle, low-impact exercise (like walking, yoga, and tai chi) is beneficial for TED patients. It reduces stress, improves mood, and boosts overall health without putting pressure on the eye sockets. High-impact exercises (like running, jumping, and heavy lifting) should be avoided during the active stage of TED, as they can worsen eye bulging and inflammation.