How does physical therapy work to treat fibromyalgia?
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Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:Physical therapy can treat fibromyalgia symptoms by helping to relieve pain and muscle tension while also improving range of motion. Physical therapy is a hands-on treatment that helps people who have been injured or who have a disabling medical condition to build strength and regain mobility. People with fibromyalgia often experience disabling muscle pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. A physical therapist may offer specific treatments such as myofascial release (a technique that stretches connective tissue called fascia, which envelops the muscles) and trigger-point therapies to provide relief for symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Physical therapy can treat fibromyalgia symptoms by helping to relieve pain and muscle tension while also improving range of motion. Physical therapy is a hands-on treatment that helps people who have been injured or who have a disabling... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Physical therapy treats fibromyalgia by working to improve your ability to move and exercise with less pain. Some physical therapists work on localized pain, but since fibromyalgia is generally marked by widespread muscle pain, this approach may not be very successful. A more successful physical therapy approach is one that focuses on finding an exercise program that works for you. This may include stretching, aquatic exercise (working in a pool, often in heated water), and strengthening. The goal is to find a way to stretch and strengthen your muscles that you can continue after you stop working with your physical therapist.
Some programs combine physical therapy with occupational therapy, which focuses on finding a balance between work, rest, and play. With occupational therapy, you may learn pain management, relaxation techniques, problem solving, sleep hygiene, and goal-setting, so you can cope better with your fibromyalgia.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulPhysical therapy treats fibromyalgia by working to improve your ability to move and exercise with less pain. Some physical therapists work on localized pain, but since fibromyalgia is generally marked by widespread muscle pain, this approach... More -
Celeste Cooper answered:A physical therapist specializing in myofascial therapy is worth their weight in gold to a fibromyalgia patient. They provide therapies such as safe warm water exercise, myofascial release to help loosen up and free restricted muscle covering, and active release therapy aimed at releasing myofascial trigger points. The goal of this specialized physical therapy is to relieve pain and improve function by returning the soft tissue to a state of resiliency, and muscles with myofascial trigger points to normal resting lengths, which improves joint movement and decreases the risk of development of trigger points in opposing and compensating muscles.
All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press and are not meant to replace medical advice. http://www.thesethree.com
Celeste Cooper, RN, patient, advocate, Share Care fibromyalgia expert, author,
"Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain" (co-author, Jeff Miller, PhD)
Living with and Coping Effectively Through Fibromyalgia: Detecting Barriers, Understanding the Clues, by Celeste Cooper in the EBook by Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD, “Fibromyalgia Insider Secrets: 10 Top Experts www.fibromyalgiaInsiderSecrets.com
Find out more about this book: Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofa...
A physical therapist specializing in myofascial therapy is worth their weight in gold to a fibromyalgia patient. They provide therapies such as safe warm water exercise, myofascial release to help loosen up and free restricted muscle covering, and... More -
RealAge answered:Working closely with a physical therapist may help prevent the aggravation of fibromyalgia symptoms. This is especially true if the patient has other physical conditions or injuries to work around. Some studies suggest that physical therapy helps improve flexibility and range of motion, emotional well-being and muscle loss and weakness in people with fibromyalgia.
Working closely with a physical therapist may help prevent the aggravation of fibromyalgia symptoms. This is especially true if the patient has other physical conditions or injuries to work around. Some studies suggest that physical therapy... More
