Can You Exercise With Shingles?
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Should You Exercise With Shingles?

Should You Exercise With Shingles?
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Updated on October 2, 2025
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Shingles is a rash caused by the varicella-zoster or herpes zoster virus. It can be painful and potentially contagious.

If you can tolerate exercising while you have shingles, it can help relieve stress. It can be helpful to know what types of exercises may be most beneficial during your recovery and how you can ensure you do not transmit the virus to others.

Always be sure not to overdo it, though. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about how much exercise you can do.

What Happens When You Have Shingles?

The same virus that causes shingles also causes chickenpox, Mayo Clinic says.

If you get chickenpox once, it lies dormant in your body. It can reactivate as shingles, causing symptoms such as skin-related pain, fluid-filled blisters, itching or tingling, and numbness.

Shingles is most common among people ages 60 years and older, those who had chickenpox before they were 12 months old, those with a weakened immune system, and those who have not been vaccinated for shingles, according to MedlinePlus.

Shingles usually goes away in two to five weeks. Treatment includes medications, rest, and warm and cold compresses.

Shingles can be transmitted to people who come in contact with open blisters and who have not had the virus.

What to Consider When Exercising

In addition to treatment your doctor may prescribe, exercise can help reduce stress and maintain good health when you have shingles.

Pain and skin eruptions from shingles can leave you feeling tired and weak, however, which may make strenuous exercise difficult. Instead, try lower-impact activities. The National Institute on Aging recommends activities that include:

  • Walking
  • Stretching
  • Gardening

A widely circulated research review published in the early 2000s also shows that practicing tai chi, the Chinese martial art of movements and breathing techniques, can ward off shingles and boost the immune system.

What you wear while exercising matters, too. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing loose-fitting cotton or linen clothing to avoid opening scabs or further irritating your skin. It also recommends covering your rash and applying calamine lotion after your blisters have scabbed over. Soaking in an oatmeal bath can help relieve symptoms, too.

While shingles is not contagious to those who have had chickenpox, it is contagious to those who have not. When it comes to exercise, this means it may be best to avoid group exercise settings, such as a gym, when you have shingles. Also avoid contact with pregnant people, babies younger than 12 months, and people with compromised immune systems.

Before embarking on any new exercise routine, be sure to speak with your doctor about what is best for you and your situation.

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Blair Murphy-Rose, MD

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Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of Skincare Junkie. She is an accomplished cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist, specializing in leading-edge facial rejuvenation techniques, including injectable fillers and botulinum toxin injections, advanced laser procedures, noninvasive body contouring, and removing lumps and bumps with precision. She is an expert in the treatment and detection of medical conditions, including skin cancer, acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Dr. Rose believes in a comprehensive approach to skin health and incorporating a skin-care routine tailored specifically for each individual and utilizing a wide array of tools to target specific skin concerns.

Rose has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dermatology Surgery, and Pediatric Dermatology, and has been featured in numerous publications, including Vogue, Elle, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Self, Women’s Health, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

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Rachel Nall, RN

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Rachel Nall, RN, BSN, is a Tennessee-based critical care nurse and freelance writer. She is a 2005 honors program graduate from the University of Tennessee in Journalism and Political Science. Nall was selected as a “Torchbearer” at the University of Tennessee, which is the highest honor given to a university student recognizing academics, service and leadership. She began her writing career with the Associated Press in Brussels, Belgium. Her articles have appeared on Drugstore.com, Healthline.com, FabFitFun.com and Bundoo.com. After five years in the healthcare custom publishing world, Nall returned to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga to pursue her nursing degree. At the School of Nursing, she was a research assistant for the Get Healthy Project, a federally funded grant providing health and wellness services to individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Her graduating class selected her as the Mary B. Jackson award winner, the highest honor given to a senior nursing student for excellence in academics and character. Although she enjoys writing about a variety of topics, health care is her practice and passion. Nall is a full-time nurse at a 20-bed intensive care unit focusing primarily on cardiac care. She enjoys educating her patients and readers on how to live healthier and happier lives. Nall is actively involved in the University of Tennessee Alumni Association. She is a past local alumni chapter president, where she worked with board members to raise more than $10,000 to complete a $25,000 chapter scholarship endowment awarding a yearly scholarship to a local resident. She has also served on the University of Tennessee Alumni Association Board of Governors and the East Tennessee Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Board. She enjoys traveling, reading and reading while traveling. In true night shift nurse fashion, she also enjoys sleeping whenever possible.

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