HOW MASSAGE THERAPY CAN TREAT FIBROMYALGIA PAIN?

Photo: Pexels-Anna Shvets

About 1-3% of people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The condition can affect how your brain processes pain signals, leading to widespread physical pain and tenderness in your muscles and body. Medical experts have shown that massage therapy is a form of treatment for people with fibromyalgia. It relieves pain, normalizes the production of cortisol, and helps reduce other symptoms of the condition.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain to spread throughout the body. People with this disorder usually suffer from increased sensitivity to pain, fatigue and difficulty sleeping. Some symptoms associated with myalgic encephalomyelitis include difficulty with concentration and focusing, stiffness, frequent tension headaches. Some people experience depression or go through a temporary phase where they can't tolerate lights or sounds. They may have pain in the stomach area and experience spastic colon or cramping in the abdominal region.

There are more than 7 million Americans who suffer from fibromyalgia, a pain syndrome that mostly affects women. Those with it often experience severe fatigue and other symptoms like tingling and numbness. Many people resort to complementary treatments such as massage therapy when dealing with fibromyalgia because the medical treatment for it has proven ineffective.

Massage therapy is often more effective than the other chronic pain treatments people with fibromyalgia may try. For example a study by the University of Miami and Duke Medical school found that people who received massage showed significantly fewer symptoms than those who had regular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment. Massage therapy reduces chronic pain symptoms and can also help people sleep better. Researchers found that it improved fatigue, weakness, stiffness and insomnia in study participants.

Why Is Fibromyalgia Hard to Treat?

There is an unknown cause of fibromyalgia and doctors are still trying to figure it out. However, there are some tests that can rule out other causes of chronic pain by looking for certain markers in the blood, but there is no specific test for fibromyalgia.

Some experts believe that some events, such as stressors, traumas or hormone changes can lead to abnormal amounts and behaviours of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin.

Doctors believe that fibromyalgia starts in the brain and causes inflammation-like symptoms in other parts of the body such as fascia, muscle fibers or other connective tissues. Fascia and other connective tissues cover muscles and run throughout the body. They help control the range of motion and ameliorate the space between muscles and blood vessels. People with fibromyalgia often experience extreme muscle tension which can compress or spasm the muscles, restrict blood flow and block certain nerve pathways.

Can Massage Therapy Treat Fibromyalgia?

Massage therapy can be a beneficial way to help people with fibromyalgia. In a 2015 review of 10 research studies found that people who were suffering from these symptoms reported a reduction of pain, anxiety and depression after receiving massage therapy. Studies that were done on people who received massages show they experienced high levels of pain relief and had a moderate amount of emotional healing. These effects persisted long after the treatment was over.

Another researcher emphasised the benefits of massage therapy for patients with fibromyalgia and recommended scheduling one to two gentle, painless massages per week with gradual increases in intensity according to severity.

Scientists continue to examine the root causes of fibromyalgia by researching massage therapy's mechanisms. A lot of people with chronic pain, and those recovering from injuries/surgery, have found that massage therapy is beneficial to them. Massages are very effective when it comes to dealing with a number of common problems. For example, they not only lead to better sleeping patterns and less stress, but also improved mobility and reduced pain.

As a certified, expert therapist Corey is committed to giving you the best massage experience every time. Experience the therapeutic, handcrafted and personalized massages that Waha is known for by scheduling your next massage at Waha Massage Studio in Arlington.

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