TREATMENTS FOR FIBROMYALGIA:
Massage Therapy

Since much of the pain associated with fibromyalgia is muscular in origin, massage may provide some short-term relief. Massage involves the practitioner moving the muscles and underlying tissues with their hands or a special device. Many therapists also provide heat and cold therapies to stimulate blood flow and ease tired muscles. The various types of massage include: Shiatsu, deep connective tissue, Swedish and myofascial release.

Massage therapy allows the blood circulation to the muscles to increase. This helps to flush out any toxins that may have accumulated in the muscles while at the same time increasing the flow of nutrients to the muscles. This will allow the sore muscles to relax, thereby reducing the pain, stress and anxiety caused by them. Massage therapy may also help to reduce your heart rate, improve range of motion in your joints and increase production of your body's natural painkillers (endorphins).

Myofascial release technique is utilized specifically to relieve tightness and restricted movement of the body's connective tissue. This is especially beneficial for fibromyalgia sufferers since this is a disorder of the fibrous or connective tissue. When done correctly, myofascial release can help lengthen connective tissue and reduce its pull on the skeletal system. Some people report that this offers them long-term relief.

Deep-tissue massage is a vigorous type of massage used to loosen areas of hardened or inflexible muscles and associated tissues. It improves some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, but the effects are generally temporary.

If you are getting a massage for the first time or from a new practitioner, you should inform them of your fibromyalgia and work with them to find a pressure that will be relaxing and not so heavy that it causes you to tense up. Although massage is almost always safe, avoid it if you have open sores, acute inflammation or swelling, or circulatory problems

Massage Improves Sleep, Decreases Pain and Substance P in Fibromyalgia Patients

After receiving massage twice weekly for five weeks, fibromyalgia patients experienced improved mood and sleep, and their levels of substance P, a neurotransmitter in the pain fiber system, decreased, along with the number of tender spots throughout their bodies, according to recent research.

The study, "Fibromyalgia Pain and Substance P Decrease and Sleep Improves After Massage Therapy," was conducted by Tiffany Field, Ph.D., Miguel Diego, Christy Cullen, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D., William Sunshine and Steven Douglas of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia is defined as "widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain of unknown cause and multiple tender points." Levels of substance P are significantly higher in people with fibromyalgia. Twenty-four adults with this condition were randomly assigned to either a massage-therapy or relaxation group.

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