Dietary And Lifestyle Changes For Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition involving widespread pain throughout the joints and muscles. Those affected often also deal with fatigue regularly! People may also find they have anxiety, concentration issues, and headaches too. Though the reason isn’t fully understood, women are affected more than men. This condition involves experiencing pain throughout the body for at least three months with no identifiable cause.

Of course, it is possible to get fibromyalgia pain relief! Taking pain medication, medication to stop seizures, and even antidepressants can help. Those affected often also visit a rheumatologist and fibromyalgia specialist. There are also several dietary and lifestyle changes that can help manage fibromyalgia.

Go To Physical Therapy

Regular physical therapy is an important factor to add to fibromyalgia treatment. This is because it helps teach those affected how to move without causing more pain. There are even physical therapists who specialize in treating people with fibromyalgia! After a thorough physical assessment and introduction, the physical therapist will start teaching women appropriate exercises for their condition. This includes specific exercises to strengthen affected joints and muscles without causing damage.

Improving flexibility and stamina are keys here! Both help people improve their posture and overall use their muscles more efficiently. This helps reduce pain and fatigue! Physical therapists who specialize in this condition will use exercise bands. Many will use the water as well.

Get Low-Impact Exercise

Yes, exercise can relieve a lot of the pain this condition causes! Of course, it should be a low-impact exercise to make sure there are no unwanted side effects. The best kinds of low-impact exercise women with fibromyalgia should add to their life include swimming, pilates, walking, and even some gentle yoga. Low-impact exercises help improve the body’s flexibility, stamina, and even muscle strength. They even release endorphins, which are often called happy hormones. This is because they reduce anxiety and depression.

Swimming, as mentioned, is a great choice since the water helps protect the joints during the exercise session. Yoga is also good since it is performed at a slower speed. In fact, yoga also helps with lowering stress!

Manage Stress

Stress is a serious trigger for pain due to fibromyalgia. Thus, managing stress is key to lessening this pain! Stress relief will look different from person to person. With that said, however, there are some generally accepted great places to start. One such example is gentle yoga, which allows people to focus on their breathing while they practice. It’s also a form of low-impact exercise, which, as discussed, also helps as it stretches muscles and joints safely, improving flexibility.

People with fibromyalgia looking to manage their stress should also consider meditation and mindful breathing. Finding an enjoyable and relaxing hobby is also a great idea! Once people find the most effective stress relief method for their needs, they should stick with it.