Exercise and Fibromyalgia
100% Hardcore Truth
By Chris Walker Fitness Professional
I was recently contacted by someone who wanted to get in shape and had some challenges due to a disorder the individual had called fibromyalgia. The email reads as such:
I was wondering if you can help people with a disability. I have fibromylagia, and find any sort of exercising painful and very taxing on my body. I have been doing the treadmill everyday to work the muscles, but I am at a low spot with the illness and find ANY exercise at this point impossible. Any suggestions for me?
Now this email upset me because the person left no contact information so I could reply.....(now if you happen to be the person who wrote this please feel free to contact me again with some form of contact information.) So, I decided to write an article addressing the situation. I’m sure many people are experiencing the same struggle with this sickness.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Now before I make some suggestions let’s just quickly define what fibromyalgia is and why it makes exercising more difficult. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue, (Feeling tired). The causes for this disorder are unknown, naturopathic doctors refer to this disorder as an autoimmune disease and have had some success treating it as such. Some scientist think genes might be involved in fibromyalgia however research still has not proven. In addition, people with fibromyalgia may also have such symptoms as:
•
Trouble sleeping
Trouble sleeping•Morning stiffness
Morning stiffness•Headaches
Headaches•Painful menstrual periods
Painful menstrual periods•Numbness in hands and feet
Numbness in hands and feet•Problems with thinking, (sometimes called “fibro fog”)
Problems with thinking, (sometimes called “fibro fog”)So what do I do?
Now it’s funny how one of the things that help make you feel better is sometimes hard to do because of the disorder. What am I talking about? Exercise. The best approach you should take with this disorder is live a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise. Ok, so that sounds very simplistic probably not what you were looking for but what is usually prescribed for this disorder along with medication is:
•Plenty of sleep
Plenty of sleep•Exercise
Exercise•Eating well
Eating wellHow do I do it?
Ok, someone with this disorder has to try not to empower it too much. Try not to label fibromyalgia as a disease, severe illness or sickness; disorder or slight disorder seems best when you refer to fibromyalgia in discussions or when you’re describing your condition to someone. You’ll create a picture in your mind of a condition that’s more easier to cope with.
Exercise at your high points and rest when you’re feeling tired. This is easiest to do if you workout at home or have a gym close by. Now the person who contacted me was only working on the treadmill....to “work the muscles”. The treadmill does not work the muscles if I may politely correct, it works the cardiovascular system. That being said we need to have three things in place to obtain a fitness result. Resistance training, moderate aerobics and good nutrition. So, you’ll find strengthening the muscular and skeletal system will enable you to cope more with this disorder along with the other two components of fitness.
Listen to your body find out which exercises your body likes; now I’m not saying if you don’t like anything do nothing, use some discretion. If you find a routine that works and makes you feel good stick with it. So, get out there pick up some dumb bells or an exercise band and challenge those muscles. If you need help putting together a fitness routine contact me or any other qualified fitness professional.
Conclusion
Ok, so in order to cope with this disorder that attacks 1 in 50 Americans predominantly female you need to:
•Not empower the disorder
Not empower the disorder•Exercise at your high points and rest when you’re feeling tired
Exercise at your high points and rest when you’re feeling tired•Apply a sound fitness approach that includes resistance training, “cardio” and good nutrition
Apply a sound fitness approach that includes resistance training, “cardio” and good nutrition•Listen to your body
Listen to your body•Take your medication
Take your medicationChris Walker is the founder of fitnesstrainingformenandwomen.com.com located in Kitchener, Ontario. Chris is a certified fitness trainer, (CFT) and actively works with medical doctors and health care professionals in helping their patients to reduce bodyfat restore musculoskeletal strength and gain control over their blood sugar readings, good and bad blood fats and blood pressure readings, among other critical fitness issues. Chris is a member of International Sports Sciences Association, (ISSA) and Canfitpro Organization. Chris has made TV appearances on Global Television and is a published author. Chris produces a book that he gives to all readers titled, "New Body", everything you need to transform your body.
Thanks for reading.
Exercise and Fibromyalgia
