Physical activity is a crucial aspect of fibromyalgia management. Learning tailored exercises and taking an active role in the treatment, understanding that “physical activity is not dangerous”, should form the cornerstone of treatment.
It is natural for people with FM to move as little as possible in the hope of minimizing pain. It’s an understandable reflex, but it’s not a good solution. Inactivity has the opposite effect, contributing to muscle soreness, stiffness, and more discomfort with the slightest movement. Therefore, exercise is highly recommended to improve the physical well-being of people with fibromyalgia.
Physical Activity
To reap the benefits of physical activity, people with FM need to respect their limits while persevering in their training program. The goal is to exercise consistently. For example, one minute of walking (a distance of 15 metres) may be the maximum a person can do at one time. But that minute of activity remains significant, even if the distance seems trivial.
However, it is possible to gradually increase the duration and intensity of training. It’s a question of choosing the time when the person feels best to engage in more intense activity. And always exercising within the limits of their capabilities.
Consistency and perseverance are essential to building endurance over time.
Recent scientific data show the benefits of physical activity after as little as 10 minutes of training, three times a day, for a total of 30 minutes a day. For people with FM, this is an easily achievable goal after a month or two of exercise. Learn more in the Activities section.
The Mind-Body Approach
The psychosomatic or “mind-body” approach refers to various techniques that “treat the body and mind”.
Since fibromyalgia is essentially a problem of spinal cord hyperexcitability, anything that has a calming effect on the body and mind will reduce pain in the short to medium term. Therefore, this approach is worth considering.
There are many mind-body approaches to suit different needs, preferences, and means. People with FM can experiment with different techniques to find the one, or more, that works best for them.
Professional Psychological Support
People with fibromyalgia sometimes need professional psychological help to get through difficult periods or to learn how best to manage their condition. Available psychotherapeutic approaches help identify false beliefs as well as ineffective ways of coping with pain on a cognitive, emotional, and even relational level. The primary goal of these proposed approaches is to treat physical and psychological suffering “through the mind”.
Some people with severe cases of FM may need the additional help of an interdisciplinary team, such as those found in pain clinics and physical rehabilitation centres.
These teams, which include a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and nurse, offer self-management programs for chronic pain. They offer practical ways to better manage, and even tame, physical pain. They also teach how to achieve a better physical, emotional, mental, and social balance. Bringing more harmony to all of these areas truly helps improve the quality of life for people with FM. See our Pain Management Section.