Affinity
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2020
- Messages
- 176
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 05/2014
- Country
- US
- State
- TX
Hey all I thought it would be nice to start a discussion of favorite forms of exercise. I know that often I am challenged to be consistent due to pain and other issues but I find that having a variety of activities helps me stay more active. As far as I know exercise is the only thing that has been shown to be consistently helpful in managing fibromyalgia through scientific studies.
Hiking - my #1 choice because I love being out in nature and I think nature is good for everyone, especially those of us who are trying to get in better touch with our own natural healing state. Lately hip issues have made this more challenging for me but I am working with my PT to get back to doing this regularly. I am lucky to live near a bunch of trails around a lake with lots of trees, too.
Walking - I prefer to walk on dirt trails but even walking in the neighborhood is good on days I am not up for a hike
Rebounding - This is like walking inside in place but easier on the joints. I like doing this on days that are too hot or rainy to get outside. Rebounding is also good for the lymphatic system and the fascia where I have a lot of issues.
Yoga - I have done yoga for many years and it's definitely one of my favorite activities. Right now I cannot really do it much but am hopeful as I heal with help from PT I can do it more again. When I try lately I feel like I am just injuring myself even when I am doing a very gentle form of yoga.
Exercise videos - I like doing these from YouTube, sometimes I do dance videos and sometimes I do videos from Cocolime Fitness who has videos specifically for fibromyalgia on her YouTube channel. I find I can often modify the movements if I have pain so at least I am doing something.
Swimming - I actually really like swimming even though I have trouble with the chlorine at the pool. We have a lake here we swim in in the summer and it's fun but challenging for me as my 6 year old wants to play much more roughly than I can so I often end up injuring my back when swimming and playing in the lake.
Bike riding - I used to love riding my bike and would even commute to work 5+ miles each way but in recent years I find it more challenging. I would love to get into more again but I think I need to build up more strength first.
Clinical pilates - I have not started these yet but my PT is going to have me start doing them once we get to a place where I can focus more on building strength instead of relieving pain. I wonder if anyone else has had success building core stability with this type of pilates? It's different than the type usually found in pilates classes and I am hopeful that it can help me build core strength to overcome my hip and back issues. I think after my pregnancy and c-section many years ago my core really suffered and I haven't been able to rebuild strength properly there which has spiraled into other issues. But I am actually very excited to start this new program because I am willing to build up from the beginning. She explained to me that like an infant who can't even turn over or kick her legs that they are developing my core from this very basic beginner place and retraining things so once I know the proper way to move I will (hopefully) stop injuring myself!
I would love to hear your favorite exercises, too. Even though I am talking about exercise I find it equally important to take rest days, but even on my rest days I am at least walking to the bus stop to drop of and pick up my kiddo and doing my PT exercises as well.
Hiking - my #1 choice because I love being out in nature and I think nature is good for everyone, especially those of us who are trying to get in better touch with our own natural healing state. Lately hip issues have made this more challenging for me but I am working with my PT to get back to doing this regularly. I am lucky to live near a bunch of trails around a lake with lots of trees, too.
Walking - I prefer to walk on dirt trails but even walking in the neighborhood is good on days I am not up for a hike
Rebounding - This is like walking inside in place but easier on the joints. I like doing this on days that are too hot or rainy to get outside. Rebounding is also good for the lymphatic system and the fascia where I have a lot of issues.
Yoga - I have done yoga for many years and it's definitely one of my favorite activities. Right now I cannot really do it much but am hopeful as I heal with help from PT I can do it more again. When I try lately I feel like I am just injuring myself even when I am doing a very gentle form of yoga.
Exercise videos - I like doing these from YouTube, sometimes I do dance videos and sometimes I do videos from Cocolime Fitness who has videos specifically for fibromyalgia on her YouTube channel. I find I can often modify the movements if I have pain so at least I am doing something.
Swimming - I actually really like swimming even though I have trouble with the chlorine at the pool. We have a lake here we swim in in the summer and it's fun but challenging for me as my 6 year old wants to play much more roughly than I can so I often end up injuring my back when swimming and playing in the lake.
Bike riding - I used to love riding my bike and would even commute to work 5+ miles each way but in recent years I find it more challenging. I would love to get into more again but I think I need to build up more strength first.
Clinical pilates - I have not started these yet but my PT is going to have me start doing them once we get to a place where I can focus more on building strength instead of relieving pain. I wonder if anyone else has had success building core stability with this type of pilates? It's different than the type usually found in pilates classes and I am hopeful that it can help me build core strength to overcome my hip and back issues. I think after my pregnancy and c-section many years ago my core really suffered and I haven't been able to rebuild strength properly there which has spiraled into other issues. But I am actually very excited to start this new program because I am willing to build up from the beginning. She explained to me that like an infant who can't even turn over or kick her legs that they are developing my core from this very basic beginner place and retraining things so once I know the proper way to move I will (hopefully) stop injuring myself!
I would love to hear your favorite exercises, too. Even though I am talking about exercise I find it equally important to take rest days, but even on my rest days I am at least walking to the bus stop to drop of and pick up my kiddo and doing my PT exercises as well.
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