Fibromyalgia and fitness: 10 guidelines for physical activity instructors by C. Jessie Jones

Can you imagine how frustrating and depressing it must be to wake up each and every morning wondering just how much physical pain and fatigue you’ll endure that day, and knowing there is no cure? Welcome to the life of people with fibromyalgia (FM).

Fibromyalgia (pronounced “fi-bro-my-AL-jia”) is not a disease, but rather a syndrome (or group of symptoms). Although the exact prevalence is unknown, reports suggest approximately 2–4% of the U.S. population has FM, with the onset of symptoms generally evident between ages 20–55 years. For reasons not understood, women account for 80% of individuals with this syndrome. In addition, the prevalence of FM increases with age, reaching greater than 7% in women ages 60–79 years.