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Summer is the season of fun—for most people. It’s a time for young adults to break out the bikinis and swimming trunks and hit the beach and a time for families to vacation, vacation, vacation. But for people with fibromyalgia, notably seniors, summer fun doesn’t always have the same connotations. Especially if you’re a woman, since fibromyalgia is more prevalent among us, you have a higher chance of being called the “debbie downer” of at group functions, or you may be considered “boring”. Seniors with fibromyalgia in particular are likely to know what it feels like to miss out on activities they can’t take part in for fear of aggravating their symptoms, or from just sheer exhaustion.
That’s not to say you’ll be labeled the buzzkill at every gathering, or that you can’t enjoy yourself. But it does mean there are some activities you should take part in with moderation. Most of the time a person with fibro on their own can pace themselves when spending time outdoors, but in larger families there is sometimes pressure to do more than you may be able to handle, and we know how demanding grandchildren can be. Communication among adult family members is key in those situations, as well as staying hydrated and eating healthy. For seniors with fibro, or anyone, taking care of your body in the summer heat is very important. Here are some outdoor activities that seniors with fibro may want to avoid in the sweltering summer months:
Hiking
Whether you’re an ambitious middle-ager, a young upstart, or a grey-hair, hiking is actually a universal activity that many people enjoy at some point in their life. But your age bracket will probably determine where, exactly, you choose to get your trail on. For seniors with fibro, smaller trails with fewer hills are more desirable, and, depending on where you travel to, it can actually be a peaceful experience. The Great Smokies of the larger Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina offer a scenic atmosphere and down-home feel of the surrounding towns that appeal to both young families and those more advanced in their life. With many streams, waterfalls, and rocks to stop and admire from pull over points, seniors with fibro can pace easily themselves while being shielded from the sun the deeper they enter the mountains.
Outdoor music
Old timers may not think they should worry about this one, but there are actually a lot of chances to run across some form of live entertainment these days. Select outdoor shopping centers even have scheduled musicians to serenade shoppers, and most come complete with convenient rockers and calming fountains. Think Branson Landing in Branson, Missouri, a popular destination for older adults with its Vegas-without-the-debauchery vibe it has. But outdoor arenas or sitting areas don’t always have shade, making the summer months an uncomfortable time to visit for some. Whether you’re just passing the time while your wife shops or if you actually planned on going to that Jazz Festival on the square, be sure to bring a hat if you decide to stay and make sure you buy a bottle of water from a vender.
Gardening
Gardening might seem a little out of place here, as most believe it to be a calming hobby. Most gardening takes place in the spring and summer months, the hottest time of the year, and fibromyalgia causes the body to have heat sensitivity. For seniors with fibro, gardening may actually end up more of a frustrating experience than an enjoyable one. Fibro causes muscle pain and soreness, and if you’ve ever tended to a flower bed you know that requires a fair amount of bending over and kneeling on hard soil. If you’re a true green thumb, you might be better off keeping a small herb garden in in the backyard or sideyard and leave the landscaping to a paid expert.
Parks
It’s always amazing to see that senior couple still keeping up with youngsters and riding coasters at some theme park, but it’s a rarity. Most people above sixty are not likely to ride a rough roller coaster with good reason, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get roped into walking around the park all day while everyone else is having fun. There’s a couple of solutions to this problem depending on how high your tolerance and patience is: 1) you can agree to watch the grandkids and take them on the kiddie rides; 2) you find a park that offers more than just thrills—Dollywood and Busch Gardens at Williamsburg, Virginia, come to mind; 3) you just stay away and save yourself the hassle. Who really wants to walk around a theme park in the middle of the summer anyway?
Boating
Boating isn’t usually a culprit for worsening fibro symptoms, but if we get down to the brass tax, there’s actually a lot of ways this activity can cause problems for seniors with fibro. For one, not all boat owners invest in shade covers, and that alone can cause people with fibro to easily overheat. But going out in the cooler months may not be the answer either. Fibro often causes sensitivity to cold as well, and if a boat such as a pontoon has no place for you to get out of the wind, it can have a similar effect as heat would. In fact, colder weather is probably worse considering the cold can make joints and muscles stiff. Of course, if you’re rich and own a yacht, or have nice friends, you can just come sail away.
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