• Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
  • Home
  • Side Effects
  • Health Tips
  • Human Anatomy
No Result
View All Result
Side Effects
  • Home
  • Side Effects
  • Health Tips
  • Human Anatomy
No Result
View All Result
Side Effects
No Result
View All Result

Fibromyalgia: Exercise helps — here’s how to start

Nina Anne Thompson by Nina Anne Thompson
October 13, 2020
in Health Tips
0 0
1
0
SHARES
3
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

If you have fibromyalgia and you’re in pain, exercising is probably the last thing you feel like doing. But experts say it’s actually one of the most effective strategies you can try to help manage this chronic pain condition.

Yet many people with fibromyalgia already struggle to get through their regular daily activities. Adding exercise on top of that may seem insurmountable. And pain and exhaustion can make it difficult to start and stick with regular workouts.

Getting started

It’s natural to worry that any exercise will make your pain worse and leave you wiped out. But know that adding more physical activity into your day may actually decrease your pain, improve your sleep, and give you more energy.

So, how does a worried person with fibromyalgia get started? You might want to talk with your doctor about your current medical therapy when you’re planing to begin exercising. Questions to consider: Should I take my medications at different times of the day? What can I do either before I exercise or right after to minimize symptoms?

Take it slow

When you are ready to begin an exercise program, start slowly. Taking a small-steps approach to beginning an exercise plan can help. Add activity in small doses, every day if you can. Then build up your activity slowly over time.

For example, if you walked for 10 minutes today, try 11 minutes — a 10% increase — a week later. This approach is especially important for avoiding a phenomenon called post-exertional malaise (PEM). Many people with fibromyalgia have this problem. When they feel less pain or more energy, they may try to get things done that they have been unable to do because of symptoms. Often, they don’t realize when they are doing too much at once. They may wind up feeling so exhausted that it takes days or longer to recover. This is PEM, better known to people with fibromyalgia as a “crash.” A gradual approach to exercise can help prevent it.

Choose activities carefully

In addition to gradually increasing movement over time, also try to choose activities that won’t put too much strain on your body. Experts typically recommend any low-impact aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming, or cycling. Your doctor may advise you to work with a physical therapist on exercises specifically aimed at reducing pain and stiffness and improving function. This may include stretching and strengthening as well as aerobic exercise.

Another form of exercise that has shown promise for people with fibromyalgia is tai chi. This ancient Chinese practice originated as a form of self-defense. It involves slow, deliberate movements and deep breathing exercises.

One 2018 study in The BMJ looked at 226 adults with fibromyalgia. Researchers assigned 151 members of the group to practice tai chi once or twice a week for either 12 or 24 weeks. The other 75 study participants did moderate-intensity aerobic exercise twice a week for six months. Researchers found that tai chi was better at relieving fibromyalgia symptoms than aerobic exercise.

Some limited evidence also suggests that yoga may also help to improve fibromyalgia symptoms, including pain, fatigue, and mood problems.

Whatever activity you choose, remember to be patient with yourself. Short-term setbacks may occur, but being patient and working to overcome them can help you make long-term progress.

The post Fibromyalgia: Exercise helps — here’s how to start appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.



Source link

Previous Post

Study Shows Significant Link Between Mercury and Autism

Next Post

How to Eat More Organ Meat

Nina Anne Thompson

Nina Anne Thompson

I'm Nina Anne Thompson. I am a final year medical student as well an entrepreneur. I've created this blog to share my health knowledge with the world.

Next Post

How to Eat More Organ Meat

Comments 1

  1. Pingback: What I eat in a day to maintain my weight after the weight loss journey! - Little Things to Bring The Best Out of You

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

trintellix side effects
Side Effects

8 Must Know Facts on Trintellix Side Effects

by Nina Anne Thompson
September 7, 2019
0

Trintellix is a drug used to treat the patient suffering from depression and related problems. So, you might not familiar...

Read more

How many bones are in the human body?

September 15, 2019
flonase side effects

Flonase Side Effects and Current Medical Uses

September 2, 2019

Pristiq side effects-Everything you need to know!

September 7, 2019
side effects of latuda

Latuda Side Effects

September 7, 2019

Follow Us

Recent Posts

CBD and other medications: Proceed with caution
Health Tips

CBD and other medications: Proceed with caution

by Nina Anne Thompson
January 19, 2021
0

Products containing cannabidiol (CBD) seem to be all the rage these days, promising relief from a wide range of...

Read more
Could Most COVID-19 Deaths Have Been Prevented?

Could Most COVID-19 Deaths Have Been Prevented?

January 19, 2021
Red wall, white steps, white heart -- concept steps to heart health

3 simple steps to jump-start your heart health this year

January 18, 2021
Mind to Matter: How Your Brain Creates Material Reality

Mind to Matter: How Your Brain Creates Material Reality

January 17, 2021
Beer pong, drinking game, ping pong ball splashing down into red plastic cup of beer

Alcohol harms the brain in teen years –– before and after that, too

January 16, 2021
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Contact Us - moresideeffects@gmail.com

Copyright © 2020 | Side Effects & Health Tips

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Side Effects
  • Health Tips
  • Human Anatomy
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2020 | Side Effects & Health Tips

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In