Fibromyalgia Support Group

Here is a link to a "news" article published today....I do not know the credibility of this source.

It challenges me to be thinking about this - I don't like pain! And I tend to curl up and wait for it to go away.

There are valid reasons for that -- I have other medical conditions along with the fibro...and the wrong activity can also be bad for my other condition and cause it to flare.
It does feel good to do some kind of movement though.

So - I share this article below for your thoughts...and recommendations...? How much do you exercise? How many times a week? What is good for us? Because over doing can really be a set back! I don't want to make an excuse - I just really want to be wise....and this is a tricky area for me...and confusing - so thought I'd ask what you all think?


Here is the link:

http://mychannelnews.info/fibromya...


And the article published today:


Sunday, November 15th, 2009

Fibromyalgia and Loss of Muscle Tone – Can Exercise Really Help?

Fibromyalgia is a condition that can cause intense and sometimes unabating pain all over the body. For this reason many patients afflicted with the disorder find it difficult to complete their everyday activities, let alone consider an exercise regimen.

However, according to experts in the field, one of the lesser addressed problems faced by those with fibromyalgia is muscle wastage because they are rendered far more inactive than in the past, or others their age might be.

Therefore many doctors who treat fibromyalgia patients recommend that they strive to complete at least some low impact, gentle exercises to keep and even improve their overall muscle tone.

The key to success is to undertake workouts gently, in moderation and to exercise as much patience as possible. The pain and fatigue that fibromyalgia patients suffer from can worsen without warning. There may be days when exercise is simply impossibility, and the best course of action is to listen to the body. Other days may find a patient able to complete only those exercises that see them lying on the floor or sitting. The important part is to keep trying to the best of one’s ability.

Stretching is important, as part of the pain may come from muscles lying dormant all day, stiffening and protesting as they do so. Making a few simple stretching exercises a part of their daily routine has helped many fibromyalgia feel at least a little better. Some people also recommend yoga both for its physical benefits and the sense of relaxation it imparts.

To try to strengthen the muscles light free weights can be very helpful. Two pound weights are not too heavy but will still provide good resistance without overstressing the muscles. There are a number of good exercise regimes on the Internet that can be adapted to fit the constraints of a person with fibromyalgia. It is important to begin with just a few repetitions a day, only increasing them as can be tolerated.

Other people with fibromyalgia have had great success following a well tailored Pilates regime, one of the goals of which is to improve muscle tone in everybody who practices the art.

As important as the exercise regime undertaken by fibromyalgia patients to increase muscle tone is the diet that they follow. An adequate amount of protein is essential and most medical practitioners suggest that fibromyalgia patients avoid caffeine and alcohol wherever possible.

Whatever exercise regimen a fibromyalgia patient chooses to undertake the key is patience and perseverance. As their body becomes more used to exercise again patients will discover for themselves where their strengths and weaknesses lie and retool their fitness program to compensate for them.
Posted on 11/15/09, 05:11 pm