Fibromyalgia and skipping to fitness

[Stardaze]

I want to skip to fitness but I have fibromyalgia is this the right thing to do

[SnazzyD]

Hello, I think it depends on the individual and particularly what you’ve been doing or not doing up to now. If you’ve kept up a reasonable level of exercise up to now, then you should be more tolerant of it, but if you have been deconditioned I’d say be cautious. My approach after a few serious blows to my health is start low and move up. It’s better to do it that way than over do it and end up having to take a lengthy break. I’ve had to train to be fit enough to set foot in a gym.

[Cat00]

I agree with snazzyD, it all depends on how fit you are now. During lockdown I took up skipping but I would advise you start with only a couple of minutes at first. It's very easy to get calf cramp and foot pain until you build up your tolerance and learn some different moves so you can bring variation into your routine.

[aytias]

Hi,I don't think there's a absolute yes/no answer to your question.

Ideally, you should be doing the exercise that makes you feel better.

I think the most important part with fibromyalgia is to identify what doesn't work and how you can avoid/mediate/control it so that you don't get flare ups.

All the best.

[Bigrockcandymountain]

Hi Stardaze, I’ve chosen exercise I find it keeps all my aches and pains at bay .I go at least 3 times a week to the gym. I really notice it when I haven’t exercised.Even just keeping active at home is good .

Everyone has different fitness levels so I would start off slow and gradually build on that .it’s also great mentally I feel so much happier after I’ve been to the gym .

I recommend it.

[Midori]

You might find it tough. Walking or water exercise will bring less strain on your leg joints while allowing your fitness to improve before you start anything strenuous and higher impact.

Have you thought of Tai Chi? It is a gently, constantly moving type of martial Art, but very slow, and helps to keep everything moving. There are Youtube videos, or most towns have at least one class, it's very low impact.

Some folk swear by Yoga, but I wouldn't be able to manage it personally.

Hope you find something.

Cheers, Midori

[JayCeon]

Brilliant advice above, I agree with it all. Myself I was fit, used to stem pretty big weights, even in my first year of fibro and play table tennis every day, esp. when I'd got my supps going. However I've been in a severe full flare all the time (2y) that may be different, and now the jabs have almost completely drained my physical energy (not mental).

The types of exercise I need are short, sharp, snappy, so high energy in short stints, nothing where I need too much endurance. Even easy things like Tai Chi or Yin Yoga seem excruciating for me. But I start everything in micro amounts and increase in baby steps. At least do all kinds of stretches while sitting or waiting etc., starting low, getting higher.

Skipping would be high energy, yes, but anything longer than 3x 1' would probably cause quite a bit of long term Ache and fatigue in me. So as with anything I'd suggest to start tiny, without any trainer telling me what to do. An hour long neck/back class with people 20y older than me was excruciating until I made it a point to pace myself and only did about a third of what the others did, which was then OK.