Skip to main content

Focus on Fibromyalgia: Exercises that work...and why

For this post, I am sharing some information that I gathered from a fibromyalgia post on About.com--along with my own perspective about exercise and fibromyalgia.




So, according to author Adrienne Dellwo, there have been three recent studies that indicate consistently that exercise is beneficial to patients with fibromyalgia. The first study looked at using a variety of exercise types. Most studies up till now have tended to focus on single types.  The newer study focuses on using a combination of self awareness, stretching, strength training, spine flexibility, and aerobic exercises.  According to its authors, this exercise format was well-tolerated and and patients still felt its benefits six months into the program.

A second study mentioned in this article investigated the effect of strengthening exercises on the autonomic nervous system(ANS) which regulates temperature, heart rate, hormone levels, etc. Apparently exercise did not really effect these things too much one way or another. These things can be out of whack in patients with fibromyalgia, and can contribute to anxiety, depression, and pain sensation.  So it seems that this particular study gives us useful insight, but not much else.

Study number three used a 60 minute exercise regimen (warm up, aerobics, strength training, and cool down).  They collected data to see the effect of this exercise program on oxidative stress which some feel is an important part of fibromyalgia . The researchers go on to say that the results are very positive!!!

Now for my take on the whole thing:

It seems to me that a variety of exercises would be most beneficial for most anyone, not just those with fibromyalgia.  The human body is adaptive by its very nature, and if the same exercises are done over and over all the time, it will adapt. Variety is a good thing!

It might be challenging for someone with fibromyalgia to even think about working out for sixty minutes at a time, especially if the whole idea of exercise is new to you.  I would propose that sixty minutes would be a good goal...start low, go slow.  Work within your physical limitations. Being consistent is key! After all, Rome wasn't built in a day. I have been a member of a health club for years.  Every year around this time attendance surges because many people decide to start to exercise, but they attempt to be too aggressive to start, and end up losing steam before too long.  Don't let yourself be one of those people.

In the meantime, strive for a variety of exercises. Warm ups and cool downs should be done before/after every workout, but you can alternate strength training and aerobics.  The exact regimen is up to you, but keep in mind that weight training should be done at least twice a week to reap benefits. If you do opt for weight training, you should not work the same muscle groups two days in a row.

I hope after reading this you will consider exercise as part of you fibromyalgia treatment...and that you are feeling the positive benefits in the very near future!

Sources: About.com;Pixabay

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately?  Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members.  Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain.  This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story.  Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube

Effectiveness Of Ozone Injections Is No Longer Up In The Air

Most of us know someone who has osteoarthritis, if we don't have it ourselves.  Joint replacement surgery is a pretty common remedy when the joint becomes severely damaged and the patient is in a lot of pain.  With risk of complications from such a surgery, perhaps an alternative treatment should be tried first. One such remedy is the injection of a synthetic version of collagen(e.g. Synvisc®) into the affected joint.  This procedure restores the cushioning to a joint that has degenerated over the years. It can diminish the pain substantially and help put off joint replacement surgery for months to years.  The biggest drawback is that these products are expensive.   GoodRX , a web site that can be used to estimate the cost of medications, estimates the cost of these products to be over $1,000 each. Here's another example--and I am not sure how widely accepted this protocol has become since study authors introduced it in November 2015.  Are you ready for this? Inject

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus.  You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour