“Sit and Be Fit: Fibromyalgia Workout”
Mary Ann Wilson, R.N.; $18.95 (2005)

Fun and effective, this specially-designed workout from the popular Sit and Be Fit™ series on PBS offers a sound physical fitness option for FM patients requiring a low-impact approach to exercise.

The 27-minute routine includes exercises for both upper and lower body, with an emphasis on improving range of motion and employing proper posture and breathing technique. While the routine is not intended as a cardiovascular workout, the succession of exercises is entirely capable of stimulating blood flow and heart rate.

Host Mary Ann Wilson, RN, uses a lightweight, 10-inch ball during the routine, but such a ball is not necessary to perform the exercises, as is demonstrated by the physical therapist who joins Wilson during the program to demonstrate modifications of each activity for viewers with different levels of function. Wilson adds another element of variety, and possible progression, to the workout by showing how to execute several of the exercises from a standing position.

Wilson is a knowledgeable host and her positive demeanor is inspiring; overall, the upbeat tone of the entire production makes this workout seem more like a treat than an “exercise routine.”

--Reviewed by Monica Towers

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This article was originally published in FMOnline. This free online newsletter is only available to registered members. Click here to register!
 
View other articles in vol. 8, no. 8 of FMOnline:
 
In the Spotlight
FM in the Classroom
Getting Through the Schoolday When You Have FM
Review: "Sit and Be Fit: Fibromyalgia Workout"
 

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