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Q: My mother, age 68, has fibromyalgia. Is exercise recommended? She says she has no strength to do anything and that exercise would be too painful.
A: Fibromyalgia is a disorder that affects the musculoskeletal system. This condition causes widespread pain and fatigue. Because of severe pain your mother probably has significantly reduced her activity level causing possible muscle atrophy and her subsequent weakness. Yes, an exercise program would be beneficial. The exercise program should include aerobic activities to promote oxygen circulation, resistance training to prevent muscle atrophy and flexibility exercises to relieve muscle tension and muscle spasms. The cardinal rule for fibromyalgia patients is to start ever so slowly and conservatively and to build up exercise tolerance in small, controlled increments. If this rule is not practiced, exercise could initially worsen her condition. With the proper exercise program your mother should see a marked improvement in the reduction of her pain level and an increase in her energy level in no time at all!
Before starting any exercise program get advice from a fitness consultant that is familiar with fibromyalgia.
Have a question about health, fitness or nutrition? Email me at deb@gotatrainer.com. I will try to address your concerns in future columns. All information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. Please consult your physician regarding any information provided. Debra Skelton is a Certified Fitness Consultant and a Licensed Nurse and is the owner of Motivative Health & Fitness, an in-home fitness training business.
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