Live More: Susan’s Story

Moving More with Fibromyalgia

Living with fibromyalgia hasn’t been easy. I deal with stiffness, fatigue and ongoing pain, and for a long time I was nervous about exercise. I worried that if I did too much, I’d flare up and feel even worse.

Everything changed when my daughter showed me some chair-based exercises she’d seen from Live Stronger for Longer. They were simple movements you could do at home, sitting down, and that made them feel much less intimidating. I remember thinking, I can at least try that. There was no pressure, no special equipment, and I could go at my own pace. If I needed to stop, I stopped.

I started with just a few minutes at a time. On some days that was all I could manage, and that was okay. Because the exercises were chair-based, they felt safe even when I was having a more painful or tired day.

Over time, those small efforts really added up. I began to notice my joints weren’t quite as stiff, and I could move a bit more easily. One of the biggest changes has been in how I manage my pain. I feel like gentle movement actually helps, rather than making things worse.

What I love most is that I can do these exercises almost anywhere. I still do them at home, but if I go out for a short walk and need a rest, I’ll sit on a bench and do a few of the movements there. It helps me keep going without overdoing it.