Fibromyalgia Water AerobicsIt is really important to work closely and follow the advice of your health care provider when it comes to what exercise you should participate in to help you control the effects of your fibromyalgia. Researchers are looking closely as to what benefits can be derived from exercise, and just as importantly what types of exercise proves to be the most advantageous.

Group one

This group was set up to follow an 8 week program that consisted of a set routine for 3 hours per week. It began with their answering a questionnaire assessing the effects of their fibromyalgia before the program and as a follow up at its conclusion.  The program consisted of…

Gentle stretches (5 minutes)

Mobility & flexing exercises (15 mins)

Medium muscle strengthening (15 mins)

Water therapy which consisted of deep water running with the aid of a floatation device (20 mins)

Cool down ( 5mins)

Heart monitoring activity testing was implemented to determine what level they were working themselves to, which allowed for individual exercising programing. The first two weeks focused on the participants keeping a low heart rate, then following this period they were to increase the rate through a moderate running exercise in the deep end of the pool. All members of this group completed the study.

Group two (control group)

This group was not given any assignments or instructions to change their lifestyle other than some literature concerning fibromyalgia.

Results:

The conclusion was that the there was a 20% reduction in the majority of the fibromyalgia systems in group one which participated in the water activities. There were no changes noted in group two which is the control group.

Although 20% doesn’t seem like a significant amount, every little bit counts especially when it comes to pain reduction. This is just one particular study but it indicates that more interest is being paid to addressing the symptoms of those suffering with fibromyalgia. This is good news for those that have suffered with this affliction and have experienced the frustration of there not be much on the horizon for them by way of finding a cure or any symptom relief.

It is most important for those suffering with this disease to work in partnership with their health care providers and be pro active in following the suggestions made by these professionals, as well as looking at supplementary avenues that will support a better quality of life, under the direction of the experts in this field. Perhaps a combination of supplementary treatments such as water activity along with meditation/yoga activity will provide some extra value to reducing some of the symptoms.