Rocking Chair Exercise and Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract

It is easy to believe that rocking in a rocking chair may have a positive effect on certain aspects of various chronic pain conditions. If nothing else, rocking in a rocking chair is a soothing activity for many people, including elderly people. Therefore, the purpose of this program evaluation was to find out whether adding short-term rocking (in a rocking chair) to an existing exercise program would impact upper-body pain, lower-body pain and perceived psychological stress levels in a small group of women over age 55 (four older than 65) with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). These women rocked in chairs for 10 minutes three times per week for 16 weeks in an ongoing fibromyalgia program that provided exercise, health education, and resource support. Program evaluation outcomes suggest that benefits may have been gained by these women from this addition to the program. Activity directors may want to consider this information when planning physical activity for elderly adults with FMS.

Keywords:

• rocking
• exersize
• fibromyalgia
• pain
• stress