Fibromyalgia Basics

Movement Therapies

Intense exercise can cause your symptoms to flare, even though you may have been an athlete before developing fibromyalgia. The key to staying fit is to find activities that you enjoy. Keep in mind that frequent rest breaks have been found to tone down the pain caused by vigorous exercise. The point is, don’t overdo it because this will only set you back.

Although exercise is touted as being helpful for treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia, the benefits are delayed. Kim D. Jones, Ph.D., FNP, a fibromyalgia researcher at Emory in Atlanta, offers the following advice to other healthcare providers: “Physical function will improve before symptom improvements.” She adds that focus needs to be on the functional benefits that occur after establishing an exercise program, such as rising from a chair easier, standing longer, or walking further.¹

Most healthy people find that exercise reduces pain (e.g., the runner’s high), gives them more energy or a feeling of vigor (muscles become more efficient), and it improves sleep. So why does exercise initially make the symptoms of fibromyalgia worse? For starters, your cardiovascular system does not produce the same degree of increased heart rate and muscle blood flow as healthy people.

When exercising muscles don’t get enough blood flow, carrying oxygen and nutrients, they start to hurt. Studies show that fibromyalgia patients have reduced blood flow and oxygen consumption in exercising muscles compared to healthy subjects performing the same task.² Ironically, exercise in fibromyalgia patients also causes a 50 percent drop in saliva flow.³ This is evidence that your peripheral nervous system is not operating correctly.

Starting a fitness program not only causes more pain initially, it may also lead to increased fatigue the following day. This is why you need to start low and go slow with any new program. However, if you avoid regular exercise, living with fibromyalgia will become worse because simple activities of daily living will be able to flare up your symptoms. For a better understanding of what goes wrong when you exercise, read The Ups & Downs of Exercise.

If your muscles are stiff and achy all the time, it will make exercise more difficult. Learn why your muscles feel tight and your range of motion is reduced, as well as how to minimize these symptoms so that you can start a fitness program.

Given all the apparent obstacles to exercising, you may be asking: why bother? Brain imaging studies show that exercise can lead to improvements in the way the central nervous system controls pain. Curious about how the brain does this or how you compare to “couch potatoes” who don’t exercise? Read more.

Exercise does not have to be boring and you have lots of options to choose from. In fact, many structured fitness programs incorporate a variety of approaches (see the box on Exercise Pros & Cons). Your goal should be to stretch daily, do 150 minutes per week of aerobics, and work on strengthening your muscles 2-3 times per week. To help you decide what types of exercise are best suited for you, read our article: Ideas for Getting it in Gear.

Stretching: Most fibromyalgia patients wake up in the morning feeling as though rigor mortis set in while they were asleep. Heat helps loosen up the muscles, but you will also need to do gentle stretching after you have moved around for 30 minutes. In fact, if you sit at a job for prolonged periods of time, your muscles may set up again, just like gelatin in a refrigerator. Although it may not be feasible to take a warm shower, apply a hot wrap to the neck and shoulder area, then move around.

If you have hypermobile joints, be extra careful to avoid overstretching. Also, heat plus gentle stretching will help reduce the impact of myofascial trigger points, or MTPs, when you perform any type of exercise. See the section on Muscle Pain Relief for additional strategies to ease these tight, painful knots in your muscles.

Aerobics: Consider starting with a warm water therapy program, especially if your pain levels are really high or arthritis restricts movement. The buoyancy of the water makes it easier on your muscles and joints. Plus, the warmth activates pain-soothing sensors in your tissues to ease the discomfort and improve blood flow to the muscles. Once you have made progress, you might move to land-based activities.

If you don’t have access to a warm water therapy pool, take a warm bath or shower before you exercise to help dull the potentially painful impact. Heat wraps and soothing ointments can be used afterwards, as mentioned in the section on Nondrug Treatments. Walk at a pace that you can still carry on a conversation. Explore aerobic activities that you enjoy and go at a comfortable self-pace.

Exercising at your preferred pace instead of a more intense pace that is often recommended is less likely to exacerbate fibromyalgia pain. In fact, studies show that patients are more likely to stick with regimens involving a light to moderate level of exertion and they still receive the benefits of the program. So, if you are tempted to overdo-it on good days, don’t!

Dance: Whether you take a Zumba class or just dance around your house, moving to music can be more enjoyable than a regimented exercise program. Treadmills and stair-climbing machines may get boring, and the ability to go for a walk depends on the weather (unless you can go to a nearby indoor mall and avoid the food).

Research shows that music can be soothing for people with fibromyalgia (improving outlook and reducing pain), so why not combine it with dance aerobics? ⁴ Of course, there are several precautions: limit jumping or bouncing, twirling, and fast jerking movements. Make sure your shoes have good tread to avoid slipping and focus on a spot on the wall so you don’t get dizzy. If you keep your knees slightly bent, shoulders stacked over your hips, and arms out to your sides, it will help with balance and minimize the risk of falling.

Being stationary for more than 60 minutes aggravates the symptoms of fibromyalgia, but prolonged movement can also make you feel worse. Incorporating short bouts of dance or simple movement to music throughout your day can help with circulation and prevent the gelling effect in the muscles. It doesn’t require getting in a car to go to a gym and it is free. And after a while, your level of fitness (and hopefully your symptoms) will improve.

Isometric Strengthening: Keeping up your strength is important, but not if it drains you of energy. Isometrics involve pressing against a stationary object (or you can use both arms or legs as resistance) for six seconds while breathing to make sure your muscles have oxygen. It does not consume lots of energy, but a 10-minute-a-day program can keep your muscles toned. For illustrations on simple exercises to keep your arms and upper body in shape, read more. For a similar routine that can tone your legs while sitting in a chair, read more.

Resistence Strengthening: Instead of pressing against a stationary object, you can also use elastic strips (brand name is Theraband). They allow you to tone muscles without heavy lifting. Start with the easier-to-stretch bands (yellow or red) and work up to bands that are more resistant to stretching. You can purchase the bands inexpensively on the internet and some have pre-made loops in them for easier use.

Dr. Jones recommends that you minimize movements that require a muscle to be elongated (stretched out) while simultaneously contracting it. This is hard on muscles and will likely cause them to hurt. To avoid these demanding types of movement, exercise with your limbs closer to your trunk and don’t do activities with your arms above your head.

Yoga: Gentle stretching movements while focusing on rhythmic breathing can help loosen muscles, improve physical function, ease stiffness, and reduce pain. It is important to find a restorative type of yoga class (or video) with a teacher who will offer ways to accommodate your specific needs or limitations. In fact, a class for people with health impairments (or one that focuses on back or neck pain) might be ideal.

The muscles in fibromyalgia are wound tight, but the deep breathing techniques taught in yoga will help relax them. The breathing makes movement easier and requires less energy (i.e., you are not working against stiff muscles). Part of the stretching in yoga is passive because it uses the force of gravity to loosen muscles. Active stretching and strengthening occurs too, but it should always be gentle.

Pilates: The focus of Pilates is muscle toning and flexibility, and it is a low impact form of exercise. Almost all fibromyalgia patients have back pain, and Pilates will help you strengthen these sore (and often weak) back muscles. “Pilates focuses on all muscles that attach to the spine and this may be part of why pain in this area is reduced,” says Jones.

Although Pilates is great for strengthening your core muscles in your trunk and the muscles in your extremities, it won’t make you aerobically fit. You need to do other exercises to improve endurance. However, don’t be surprised if Pilates does lead to better sleep because it is a mindful, relaxation breathing form of movement. In addition, it should help with your balance and reduce your risk of falling. Start with a Pilates class or video geared for people with back pain.

Tai Chi: This movement form is coordinated with deep breathing and relaxation. As with yoga and Pilates, tai chi tones muscles, improves balance and endurance. You should avoid kicks and aggressive movements that may overstretch your muscles. Stay on two feet until you gain confidence and avoid holding poses for long periods until your muscles get stronger. Otherwise, muscle soreness might set you back. As with yoga, you should start with a class or video in which the instructor offers ways to accommodate your limitations.

St John AW, Jones KD, at al. The Nurse Practitioner J, 47(4):20-30, 2022.
Fibromyalgia: A Clinical Update – this is an excellent article and it’s available for free.
Click here and then click on the “download” button on the left-hand side.
Villafaina S, at al. Biomedicines 11:132, 2023.
Costa AR, et al. Diagnostics 12:2220, 2022.
Usui C, et al. Pain Medicine 21(8):1546-1552, 2020.

Suggestions and Resources

Post Exercise Preparedness

Whether it’s tai chi, yoga, water aerobics, or a walking program, any activity can improve your overall physical health and reduce stress. Before you start, here are some tips in advance to ease any soreness that may follow any new activity:

Drink lots of water to clear the lactic acid from your system.
Use moist heat, such as a shower or hot tub, to reduce muscle soreness. Heat wraps or heat pads are also helpful.
Breathe to expand the chest muscles and relax your body.
Get 30 to 60 minutes per night of extra rest when starting a program.
Professional massage, self-massage, or self-acupressure can be helpful.

Warm Water Aerobics

Search the internet for “indoor warm water therapy class near me.” Look for pools maintained by the YMCA, Parks and Recreation, universities, hospitals, and pain clinics. Ideally, the temperature should be maintained between 93 and 90 degrees.

Before you sign up for a class:

Find a class time during that works well for you energy-wise.
Enroll as early as you can for classes—they fill quickly and may have wait lists (or consider taking a course in heated pool that is not used strictly for therapy).
Start with one session per week (or two max) to avoid over-stressing your body.
Select a beginner’s course or one for people with health issues.
Ask instructors if they are flexible and willing to adapt to your needs in class.

Pool comforts and suggestions:

Water shoes lessen wear and tear on the bottom of your feet.
A plush robe poolside minimizes shivering.
Loosen up with a warm shower in the locker room before getting into the pool.
Stretching before and after hitting the pool helps with muscle stiffness.
Stay hydrated. As you exercise, you’re losing fluids. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after workouts.
Sitting in the hot tub after exercise can soothe your sore muscles.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (e.g., TENS unit) therapy targeting sore muscles may lessen post-exercise pain.

Tai Chi Dos and Don’ts

Dos

Go to tai chi class with a good attitude.
Tai chi is best learned from an instructor if you can afford it.
Let the instructor know that you have chronic widespread pain, and that you will need assistance modifying movements. Instructors who are in less demand often have small classes and can give more personal attention.
Be comfortable with your instructor. She/he should be patient and accommodating. Good tai chi instructors are always learning and should accept your abilities.
Ask your instructor in advance if he teaches proper breathing (QiGong) to relax your muscles while sitting or standing, so you can use it throughout your day.
If you assume the proper “horse stance,” you will not injure yourself.
When you get tired during a class, it is time to stop and rest (listen to your body).
If you have not exercised for a while, you will be sore initially.
Allow strength and balance to improve over time.
Tai chi should be fun.

Don’ts

Avoid any moves that involve kicks.
Avoid any aggressive movements, over extensions, deep knee bends, and positions that are not comfortable or your body does not want to go in.
Until you feel confident, stay on two feet.
Never, never turn a knee inward.
Don’t overexert or force yourself (know your limits).
Don’t be afraid to try.
Don’t compare yourself to others in the class or what you used to be able to do.

Fibromyalgia-Friendly YouTube Videos

In person classes may be helpful initially, but they can be expensive and you may not be able to find a class time that fits your schedule. Check out the YouTube alternatives below for yoga, Pilates, and tai chi. Just skip the ads and don’t get sucked in to subscribing to any video service because there are plenty of free videos.

Yoga

A full series of yoga videos are available by Adriene, many of them made specifically for people with chronic pain. Before diving into doing yoga movements, it’s important to first learn the relaxation breathing that will help relax your muscles as you move.
Yoga Breathing (11 minutes) Practice this technique 4x/day for first week.
Yoga for Neck, Shoulders and Upper Back (10-minute quickie)
Quick Restorative YIN/Gentle Yoga Practice (17 minutes)
Yoga for Hips and Lower Back Release (23 minutes)
Yoga for Lower Back Pain (16 minutes) – Keep knees bent to make it easier.
Wake Up Yoga (11 minutes) You may not stretch as far and keep knees bent.

Pilates

Gentle Fibromyalgia Routine (10 minutes) Taught by a physical therapist Jessica Valant and partially performed while seated.
Below are two videos produced by the National Health Authority/NHS in the UK.
Standing and Chair-Based Pilates (31 minutes)
Pilaties for Chronic Back Pain (29 minutes) Skip neck rolls because they can strain the muscles in the neck and shoulders.
Pilates for Chronic Pain Relief (19 minutes) Says it is suitable for fibromyalgia … but as stated above, skip the neck rolls.

Tai chi

Tai Chi Easy for Pain Management (40 minutes) Explains what tai chi is and provides a few gentle movements with mindful breathing. It’s good for learning the basic principles but this video may not be enough for a routine workout.
Veterans Tai Chi for Pain and Stress (90 minutes) Designed by veterans to help veterans and part is demonstrated in a seated position.
Tai Chi for Pain (20 minutes) Most of the movement is done seated.
Morning Tai Chi for Seniors (12 minutes) Simple standing movements to help you get moving in the morning.