Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder that causes extreme muscle pain and fatigue all over the body.
Many people suffering from the condition find they struggle to exercise as much as they would like to, or at all.
While the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia may make exercise and daily activities difficult, it is crucial to stay physically active.
Studies have shown that strength training can be safe and beneficial for individuals with FMS and, in fact, can help to make daily activities, such as climbing the stairs, much easier.
In particular, strength training can help people feel less tired, function better and boost their mood.
If you suffer from FMS, it is important that you first speak to your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program so they can advise you on your condition on an individual basis.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you are looking to start a strength training program:
- Stick with low impact, controlled movements to prevent excess soreness.
- Give yourself enough recovery between exercises and between workouts to prevent fatigue and overexerting yourself.
- Pace yourself and build up slowly to allow your body time to learn and safely adapt to the level of effort – you can gradually increase your periods of activity and make sure they have balanced periods of rest.
- Track your workouts so you can stay motivated and also stay on top of what has worked well for you and what has not.
Although FMS can be really painful, it is important to remember that you are not damaging your muscles and joints when you exercise appropriately and safely.
Always listen to your body – some days you will have more pain than others in relation to your symptoms, so it is best to gauge how you feel and take rest when it is needed.
After years of suffering from fibromyalgia, Kunal made the decision to focus on improving his health – so he partnered with the world’s leading personal trainers.
Before he started his transformation, his life was ruled by pain and the side effects from his medication made him feel weak and drowsy.
But in six weeks, Ultimate Performance helped him overcome the worst of his condition, reduce his fibromyalgia symptoms and get strong fit and healthy again with an effective diet and training program.
Read about Kunal’s utterly life-changing transformation story with Ultimate Performance.
