Is Fibromyalgia Getting You Down?
If so, then massage therapy might be just what you need to help put some spring back into your step. It works to reduce pain, eliminate stiffness, and helps you to relax. If you are interested in massage, this article will outline the treatment's basic principles and how it can benefit your fibromyalgia symptoms.
What is Fibromyalgia? How Does Massage Therapy Benefit Sufferers?
Fibromyalgia is defined by widespread chronic pain, as well as a broad spectrum of related symptoms including fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and reduced physical function. It is a condition affecting the soft tissues. Massage therapy can really reduce the pain, stiffness, and tender points caused by fibromyalgia syndrome. But how does it manage to do this? Well, no one is 100% sure on how massage actually reduces pain, but it may have something to do with the central nervous system. It is theorized that massage therapy actually enhances the production of certain pain blockers, including endorphins, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These hormones work to counteract pain signals conducted by the brain, and this would explain why massage offers such dramatic pain relief.
It tends to be seen predominantly in women but can occur in men, and in all age groups.
Some chalk it up to an energy crisis in the body's cells, others to mixed messaging between the muscles and the brain, but no one is really certain - yet - where fibromyalgia comes from. We do know that fibromyalgia patients have chronic pain in both the upper and lower, left and right parts of the body, and that it involves a physical response to stress. We also know from functional neural imaging that the brains of patients with fibromyalgia show greater activation than control patients when given the same stimulation. So there is clearly a physiologic difference in how these patients process pain in their brains
Studies suggest that massage & reflexology work in part by way of calming the "noise" in the central nervous system and this may help in correcting structural imbalances and in regulating pain.
Benefits
Massage therapy is actually one of the most beneficial treatments for fibromyalgia pain and fatigue. In fact, in a survey completed by fibromyalgia sufferers, massage therapy was rated the best fibromyalgia treatment option by an overwhelming margin. Massage therapy benefits include:
- increased blood circulation to the muscles, allowing for faster muscle repair
- increased flexibility
- increased range of motion
- decreased stress and depression
- reduced pain
- reduced stiffness
- improved sleep patterns
In a 1996 study, fibromyalgia sufferers reported a 38% decrease in pain symptoms after receiving just ten, 30 minute massage sessions. They also reported a significant decrease in their sleep difficulties: they began sleeping for longer periods at a time and were disturbed less by sleep disorders.
Here are a few types of massage that you may find beneficial for relieving your pain.
Swedish
The Swedish massage technique is designed to increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the muscles. This helps to flush out toxins and improve the flexibility and health of your muscles.
Deep Tissue
Deep tissue massage is a vigorous therapy used to loosen areas of hardened or inflexible muscles and tissues. It targets the deep layers of your muscles and tendons, helping to release tension and chronic muscle pain. Because deep tissue massage uses slower and deeper strokes than Swedish massage therapy, you may feel a little pain immediately following your treatment. However, this pain should disappear within a day or so.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release techniques help to relieve stiffness and tightness in your body's fascia, caused by myofascial pain. The fascia is a thin layer of tissue that covers all of your muscles and organs. In fibromyalgia, sometimes the fascia can become extremely short and tense, resulting in pain. Myofascial release therapy uses stretching techniques to relieve this pain. The therapist first locates an area of tightness on your body and gradually stretches this area, holds the stretch, and then allows the fascia to relax. The process is repeated until the fascia is completely relaxed.
How Reflexology can Help Fibromyalgia Sufferers
In one study of 10 fibromyalgia sufferers who had reflexology treatments twice weekly for five weeks, researchers found definite improvement in the symptoms of all ten of the patients, with no side-effects.
FMS patients having undergone regular reflexology treatments report an improvement in:
- Mental clarity
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Fatigue
- Sleep disorders
- Depression
- Myofascial pain
- Tender point pain
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My Life was Changed Forever with Massage...
"I am a fibromyalgia sufferer and for years I went from therapist to therapist until I found Terry. After going to Terry exclusively for almost 4 years, she recommended one of her other therapists, Maryann, who has successfully treated my condition with myofascial release with amazing results. I highly recommend Terry and her staff for those who suffer with chronic pain. Did I mention it's affordable?"
— Regina (Newark, DE)
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Food for Thought
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