Physical Therapy: Fighting Against Fibromyalgia
Physical Therapy for Fibromyalgia
If You are Living With Fibromyalgia, Physical Therapy Can Help…
Are You Living With Fibromyalgia Pain?
Affecting nearly 5 million people in the United States alone, fibromyalgia can have widespread consequences for those diagnosed with this chronic condition.
WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition thought to result from alterations in how the nervous system processes pain signals. The definitive cause is unknown at this time but research shows fibromyalgia can be triggered by a traumatic event, a surgery, an infection, arthritis, major emotional stress, or can develop gradually over time. Certain systemic medical conditions may predispose someone to develop fibromyalgia. These conditions include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Most individuals are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia during middle age, however, it can develop much earlier or later in life. In some cases a family history can predispose an individual to developing this condition and women are twice as likely to have fibromyalgia as men.
Diagnosing Fibromyalgia can be complex, as this disorder is considered a syndrome consisting of several signs and symptoms. Common presentations include:
Muscle stiffness especially early in the morning
Widespread pain and tenderness
Chronic fatigue
Headache, including migraine
Difficulty sleeping
Memory, thinking and concentration issues
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Depression and anxiety
Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
There are no specific blood tests or imaging that can be done to diagnose Fibromyalgia which means your provider will need to take a thorough history to better understand the symptoms you are experiencing. A formal diagnosis is usually made based on symptoms of extreme fatigue, pain in multiple tender points (that move around), trouble sleeping, memory difficulties and anxiety. If your physical therapist suspects you may have Fibromyalgia they are not able to make the formal diagnosis but may refer you to a rheumatologist for further examination.
HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP?
As movement experts, a physical therapist should be an important member of your care team. Reducing pain, improving ability to participate in desired daily activities, and increasing health-related quality of life are three primary aims of physical therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Research performed on various physical therapy interventions for fibromyalgia found that aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening, stretching, and education are effective in decreasing the pain and severity of fibromyalgia and enhancing quality of life.
If you have found that increasing activity has caused a flare in your symptoms, a physical therapist can help guide you in how to pace your activities, and how to start slow and progress when ready. They will discuss ways to set realistic goals for exercise and when you should modify your exercise plans if you are experiencing added stress or increased symptoms.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING A PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT?
If Fibromyalgia pain and fatigue have caused you to restrict or limit the amount of exercise and physical activity you do, your physical therapist will work with you to begin a well-paced but progressive exercise program. Although you may initially experience an increase in your symptoms, physical activity is generally considered safe for persons with Fibromyalgia and under the supervision of a physical therapist you can become more confident in progressing and modifying physical activity on your own.
Here are some examples of physical therapy treatments to address symptoms of fibromyalgia:
Meditation/Mindfulness/Guided Imagery: anxiety is a hallmark symptom of this condition. Whether feeling stress and anxiety are primary symptoms of the disorder or results of feeling unwell and in pain for a prolonged duration, techniques like meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness and guided imagery may be prescribed to promote increased parasympathetic nervous system activity to reduce pain and anxiety.
Aerobic Exercise: Daily aerobic exercise has been shown to improve global quality of life and reduce pain symptoms in persons with fibromyalgia. If you are new or returning to aerobic exercise, your PT will help you select a form of aerobic exercise that is most interesting to and comfortable for you and guide you in progressing the time and intensity to give you maximal benefit.
Strengthening: A muscle strengthening routine has been shown to reduce fibromyalgia-related pain. While it may not be a good idea to jump right into the gym and start a high intensity strength program like you used to do before your fibromyalgia symptoms developed, a supervised, individualized, and graded strengthening routine is a great idea. A PT will measure the strength of your muscles and prescribe exercises that will help to reduce your pain symptoms and help you feel stronger to perform your daily activities.
Stretching: Stretching areas of the body that feel stiff or tender can reduce feelings of pain. If you are unsure where to begin with stretching, your PT may perform gentle manual stretches to elongate and relax your tissues and teach you stretches you can perform on your own at home.
Manual Therapy Techniques: Soft tissue mobilization or massage may be helpful to some people with fibromyalgia to manage feelings of pain and stiffness. Your physical therapist will work on specific areas of your body to help improve blood flow to the area and reduce symptoms of pain and discomfort.
As with all conditions, the physical therapy approach to treating fibromyalgia is as individual as the clients who walk in the door. If you are living with fibromyalgia, though, you do not have to look for answers on your own. Physical therapy can help empower you to find ways to manage your symptoms and to participate in more activities throughout your life. Evolve physical therapy is here to help you take those first steps!
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About EvolveNY-
Brooklyn's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics- There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of biomechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better! First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
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