5 Pilates Exercises for Fibromyalgia Symptoms

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that typically consists of widespread pain and tenderness in the body. Fatigue and sleep issues are also usually a part of this condition.

Doctors still aren’t sure what causes fibromyalgia. It can affect anyone, at any age, but it does seem to affect individuals assigned female at birth more prevalentlyTrusted Source and tends to develop most often in middle age.

While there’s currently no cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatment options to help ease symptoms. These include:

• medications (antidepressants, anti-seizure medication, pain medication)
• therapy (like cognitive behavioral therapy)
• other lifestyle changes

Pilates and fibromyalgia

One of the lifestyle changes that has been shownTrusted Source to help ease pain and improve quality of life is exercise. While aerobic exercise and weightlifting are both beneficial for fibromyalgia symptoms, Pilates has also been shown to be a safe, effectiveTrusted Source treatment.

If you are unsure about starting a weightlifting plan, Pilates can be an ideal alternative. It’s a low impact activity that focuses on recruiting key muscles while minimizing full-body fatigue. Pilates teaches you to use the muscles of the back and abdomen without overstraining the joints. You’ll also learn to coordinate breathing with movements and develop a mind-body connection.

Pilates focuses on stabilization of the shoulder blades, rib cage, and pelvis during abdominal exercise as well as proper head and spine placement to avoid neck strain.

If you’re interested in trying Pilates for your fibromyalgia, talk with your doctor first. Once they’ve okayed the idea given your personal health history, you may be able to find a licensed Pilates instructor or physical therapist who can help you get started.

Below are five beginner Pilates moves that can help you stretch and strengthen your muscles.

Pelvic Clocks

This exercise is great to gain awareness of your body. You’ll learn how to isolate the abdominals and pelvis while keeping the rest of your body relaxed.

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Make sure your legs are parallel, hip-width apart. Relax your neck and shoulders, bringing your shoulders down away from your ears. Rest your hands on your hips.
2. Imagine there’s a clock lying flat on your hip bones: 12 o’clock is at your bellybutton, 6 o’clock is your pelvic bone, and 3 and 9 o’clock are at your hip bones.
3. Contract your abdominals and tilt your pelvis to slightly flatten your back. Your pelvic bone (6 o’clock) should now be higher. Keep your upper body relaxed.
4. Use your abs to tilt your pelvis so that the 3 o’clock hip is lower. Continue to move around the clock, tilting your pelvis at 6 o’clock and then your hip at 9 o’clock.
5. Repeat in the opposite direction. Repeat 2 to 3 times.

Bent Knee Fall Outs

This exercise works the lower abdominals, obliques, inner thighs, and quadriceps. It’s also ideal for pelvic floor activation.

1. Lie on the ground with your knees bent, feet flat, and spine neutral with a slight curve.
2. Draw your shoulder blades down your back, with your shoulders away from your ears to stabilize your scapulae (shoulder blade bones).
3. Exhale, pull your bellybutton in, and contract your abdominals.
4. On your next exhale, let your right knee slowly open to the side without moving your hip bones. Feel a gentle stretch through your inner thigh.
5. As you inhale, bring your knee slowly back to center.
6. Repeat on the other leg.
7. Repeat for 5 repetitions on each leg. Focus on keeping your abdominals engaged.

Bridge

This exercise for your buttocks and lower back helps build strong muscles in the legs and glutes. It can ease tension along your back.

1. Lie on your back with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. Exhale and lift your hips off the floor until your body is in a straight line. Squeeze your glutes and engage your core. Hold for 1 count at the top of the movement.
3. Be sure to keep your shoulders on the floor and not to overextend your back at the top, not arching past neutral.
4. Return to starting position and repeat 5 to 10 times.

Heel Slides

These exercises target the lower abdominals and is best done in socks on a slick surface.

1. Lie on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat, and spine neutral with a slight curve.
2. Draw your shoulder blades down your back, shoulders away from your ears to stabilize your scapulae.
3. Exhale, draw your belly button in, and contract your abdominals.
4. On your next exhale, slowly straighten one knee, sliding your heel along the floor. Keep your spine and pelvis still.
5. As you inhale, bring your knee slowly back to starting position.
6. Repeat on the other leg.
7. Repeat for 5 repetitions on each leg. Focus on remaining stable through the pelvis and using the lower abdominals to move the leg.

Ribcage Arms

1. Start lying on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your arms straight beside your body with palms down.
2. Inhale and reach your arms back toward your ears. Think about your ribs softening, stabilizing through the rib cage, and pulling your belly in to support the core. You want to isolate the movement of the arms without arching the back.
3. Exhale and bring your arms back down to your side, maintaining stabilization through the torso.
4. Repeat 3 to 5 times.

Trainer tips

According to physical therapist Gabrielle Shirer, an important consideration when creating a Pilates program for fibromyalgia is to keep repetitions to a minimum.

Because people with fibromyalgia can fatigue faster, it’s best to keep muscles comfortable during all phases of exercise. Consider having individuals perform exercises at a slightly slower pace for a shorter duration.

Precautions

Always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program. Personalized programs and one-on-one teaching from a certified Pilates instructor are best for people with fibromyalgia due to the individualized nature of the condition.

Proper posture and technique are key to finding success with Pilates and eliminating unnecessary pain or injury.

The takeaway

Pilates can be a great low impact exercise for people living with fibromyalgia. Deep breathing helps oxygenate the muscles, and a focus on the mind-body connection can help improve concentration and increase body awareness, and may help decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia.