For years you have been hurting all over and constantly feeling exhausted but no one seems able to help. Finally you have been diagnosed with something called Fibromyalgia but the bad news is that everyone you speak to says that there is very little they can do about it. Without a magic cure, what can you do? Well, we think we have an answer to this and have proven success that our treatments assist in relieving the symptoms of this disorder. So, first things first, what exactly is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic disorder that affects the muscles and soft tissue. It is characterised by widespread pain, sensitivity to touch, fatigue and a number of other symptoms. Found predominantly in women, the syndrome is tough to detect and there is no known cure.

Here are 8 facts about the painful disorder that is Fibromyalgia.

1. The word “fibromyalgia” comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek words for muscle (myo) and pain (algia).
2. The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is chronic musculoskeletal pain. The pain is widespread, and can hit all areas of the body, commonly in the form of a constant dull ache, impacting the joints and soft tissue.
3. People suffering from fibromyalgia experience decreased levels of energy with moderate or severe fatigue. Sleep is often disturbed by the pain and most people wake up tired.
4. Fibromyalgia is also characterised by a slowdown of cognitive functions. A person’s ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks can be impaired.
5. The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown and there is no cure for the condition. However, as fibromyalgia can be an emotional condition as well as physical, tension can be brought on by emotional stresses on the mind as well as physical stresses on the body.
6. Regular pain, fatigue, and inability to carry out normal daily activities affect sufferers however for a number of people, the condition does improve over time.
7. Results prove that Massage, in particular Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial Release is an effective way to treat the pain and stiffness associated with this condition.

What can we do to help?

The symptoms can be relieved through pain management techniques with one of our qualified Practitioners. Research suggests that sufferers of Fibromyalgia have lowered blood flow through their muscles, so with light massage techniques the muscles can be warmed up in a non-intrusive way and blood flow is allowed to improve.

Another common symptom of Fibromyalgia is the stiffening of muscle fascia. Fascia is a dense layer of connective tissue that surrounds each muscle. An adhesion can form between the muscle and the fascia causing discomfort and restricting movement. Myofascial release involves our skilled Therapists putting gentle pressure onto the tissue until a release in tension occurs. Our Therapist’s will also stretch the fascia through manipulation to help the fascia regain its length, thereby reducing the impingement on the muscle fibres. Tightness in the body can also be relieved by trigger point therapy which involves adding pressure to a particular knot in the muscle fibre which aids the release of tension.

Gentle yoga-like movements and light stretching will also help post treatment by relaxing the muscles further. Our ur Therapists are qualified to prescribe suitable one’s for you to execute in the comfort of your own home.

We hope are knowledge and expertise can help relieve the symptoms you experience with this condition.