Both fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis can deplete muscle function. Fibromyalgia causes muscle pain, morning stiffness, fatigue and tender points that hurt when touched. Multiple sclerosis is a nervous system disorder that can lead to muscle weakness, problems with coordination and balance, numbness and prickly sensations. In severe cases, MS patients may be confined to a wheelchair. Appropriate exercise regimes can be helpful for both conditions.
Aerobic Exercise
Regular aerobic exercise can be done by patients with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis and those with fibromyalgia. Start out with two to five minutes of walking at your own brisk pace four to five times per week, the National Pain Foundation advises. Increase your regime by one minute each week until you work up to 30 minutes of continuous aerobic exercise.
Activities may also include bicycling or swimming which can be a good choice for people who are bothered by heat.
Flexibility Training
Stretching the body can help decrease the pain of fibromyalgia, the National Pain Foundation reports. Performing five to 10 repetitions of various upper and lower body stretches are recommended. Poses are typically held for several seconds.
MS patients should stretch daily for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Each muscle group should be thoroughly stretched before and after exercise.
Strength Training
Resistance training using free weights, machines and other weight-bearing equipment can be performed two to three times per week for fibromyalgia and MS patients.
Start out with 70 percent of the weight that you can lift 10 times. When this weight can be performed for 25 repetitions for two consecutive sessions, increase the weight by 10 percent. Train different muscle groups on opposite days. For example, perform arm lifts one day and work on legs the next.
Yoga
Yoga may benefit people with MS and fibromyalgia. Yoga combines deep breathing, relaxation and slow movements. While some yoga classes focus on aligning the body by holding various poses, others emphasize stress reduction through meditation.
Outlook
Exercise may increase pain at first but over time it can reduce symptoms, MayoClinic.com reports. Lack of physical activity can lead to muscle weakness regardless of whether you suffer from MS or fibromyalgia. Regular aerobic exercise can improve strength, muscle tone, balance and coordination, and ease depression.
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