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Polymyalgia & Exercise

Polymyalgia is a painful disease of inflammation that tends to cause widespread muscle aches throughout the body. While polymyalgia usually abates on its own within a year or two, individuals currently suffering will likely not want to wait that long for relief. Fortunately, regular exercise can provide some measure of relief from the symptoms of polymyalgia. Low-impact training can help to reduce pain and counteract weight loss brought on by prescription medications used to combat polymyalgia.

  1. Polymyalgia

    • While in most cases the onset of polymyalgia is a gradual thing, there are nevertheless some instances where the disease seems to literally manifest overnight. Although the actual cause of polymyalgia is unknown, age appears to be one major risk factor for the disease, along with genetics (family history of the aliment). Medically, polymyalgia is normally treated with anti-inflammatory medications (corticosteroids).

    Polymyalgia and Exercise

    • Many prominent health care facilities, such as the Mayo Clinic, recommend regular exercise to combat the rigors of polymyalgia. Regular training can help to limber up stiffened muscles, allowing you to regain your mobility and typical flexibility while minimizing the pain felt from this bizarre aliment. At least 30 minutes per day, four days per week is a good starting ground for training with polymyalgia.

    Exercise Recommendations

    • To avoid irritating the joints and muscles further, low-impact activities are often best if you are suffering from polymyalgia. These include brisk walking, stationary cycling, swimming, water aerobics and disciplines like yoga, taiji (tai chi) and pilates. These are all activities that are able to promote a full range of motion without placing undue strain on the joints, as activities like weight training or sprinting would tend to do.

    Benefits

    • Besides relieving the pain of polymyalgia, regular exercise can help you to maintain a healthy weight, even despite the anti-inflammatory medications you might be taking. Additionally, regular training can help to lower your risk of various diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, heart attack and stroke, so make exercise a habit as opposed to a chore to reap a lifetime of rewards.

    Considerations

    • In addition to exercise, diet can play a role in overcoming polymyalgia. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruit, vegetables, seafood and lean meats. Additionally, supplement with at least 1,200 mg of calcium and 800 mg of vitamin D per day to ensure you are consuming adequate amounts of bone-building nutrients.

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