Every fibromyalgia expert will tell you that exercise is an essential component of any fibromyalgia treatment program. However, most fibromyalgia patients complain––with valid reason––that exercise is difficult and painful. So how can people with fibromyalgia get the exercise they need without causing themselves more pain? Water exercise is one good way.
Benefits of Exercising in Water
Water provides several benefits that make exercise easier, less painful and more effective.
- Water’s buoyancy decreases the effects of gravity, displacing 85 percent of your weight. As a result, it takes less effort to move because you don’t have to support your whole weight.
- The buoyancy of water also takes the weight off of your joints, allowing for more flexibility.
- The hydrostatic pressure of water reduces joint swelling and inflammation, which makes exercising easier and less painful.
- Water provides resistance, which helps you increase strength and improve balance.
- The resistance factor also burns more calories. An exercise done in water can burn twice as many calories as the same exercise done on land.
- Immersion in water promotes relaxation, reduces muscle fatigue and lessens pain perception.
Types of Water Exercise
There is probably a water version of just about any kind of exercise you can think of. Of course swimming is the first type of water-related exercise most people think about. But there is also stretching in water, water walking, water jogging, water aerobics––even water kickboxing. One of the fastest growing forms of water exercise is water yoga, which uses modified versions of many of the upright yoga positions.
Water exercise programs can be done on an individual basis or in a class. While individual programs are custom designed to meet your specific needs, classes are far less expensive and can be just as effective (unless you have a special need that cannot be addressed in a group setting). An added benefit to exercising with a group is the opportunity to interact with other people and make new friends.
