Exercise for Fibromyalgia Patients

Fibromyalgia is a health problem wherein multiple aspects of natural balance no longer function correctly, including the ability to recover from exercise. Those with nasty fibromyalgia often experience a significant flare up in their pain when they try to do more. Unfortunately, being inactive only makes matters worse. A new randomized trial proves how exercise can help improve fibromyalgia¹.

The researchers found that participants who gradually built up their fitness to a total of 30 minutes of self-selected lifestyle physical activity over a 12 week period were able to improve with quality of general function, had less pain, and were taking 54% more steps every day.

Self-selected lifestyle physical activity involves moderate-intensity physical activity based around everyday life such as taking the stairs instead of using an elevator, gardening and walking. In this study, participants were taught to perform LPA intense enough to cause heavy breathing, but not so heavily that they could not hold a conversation.

There are many options to improve fibromyalgia. Getting activity and exercise to be your friend is vital for any long-term improvement. Consistency is more important than intensity. This study shows that moderate exertion in the course of everyday activities, totaling ½ hour per day but not done at all one time, can help a person with fibro start heading in the right direction.