Fibromyalgia and Massage Therapy: An Effective Treatment Option
Fibromyalgia has quickly gone from being an unknown and misunderstood condition to being one of the most widely studied chronic conditions in American medicine. New treatments, medications, and preventions are being developed every year to help fibromyalgia sufferers.
One of the most effective treatments for fibromyalgia has been massage. The link between fibromyalgia and massage has been tested and proven time and time again by fibromyalgia sufferers around the globe.
Fibromyalgia and massage therapy go so well together because of the nature of both. Fibromyalgia is a condition which affects every muscle, joint, tendon, and ligaments in the body in some people. Massage therapy is a treatment which provides attention to these body parts, increases the circulation and warmth to affected areas, and helps to relieve the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
The link between fibromyalgia and massage therapy has been studied for nearly as long as fibromyalgia has been recognized as a medical condition. Fibromyalgia and massage therapy studies have provided some valuable insight into both the nature of fibromyalgia and the long-term effects of massage therapy.
How Can Massage Therapy Help Fibromyalgia?
Massage therapy stimulates the natural pain-relieving properties in the human body. The skin-to-skin contact and tissue stimulation encourages the body to produce hormones that relieve pain and produce a feeling of peace and relaxation.
Massage therapy can also physically manipulate the muscles that have been strained and tense because of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia does typically cause tension, so relieving this tension can help the sufferer to deal with the condition.
The range of motion and flexibility of a fibromyalgia patient can also increase significantly after the application of massage therapy, so that the patient is more easily able to move and get the physical exercise that is usually recommended in the course of treatment of fibromyalgia.
How to Find a Massage Therapist
If you suffer from fibromyalgia and massage therapy sounds like a good option for you, you should start by finding a reputable massage therapist. There are a number of ways to do this, so whatever you are comfortable with will probably be effective. First of all, recommendations from your doctor or other healthcare provider are a great place to start.
If your doctor cannot provide a recommendation, going to friends and family who have experience with massage therapists is a good option. There are always phone book and online ads for those who can't find a personally recommended massage therapist.
If you decide to personally explore the link between fibromyalgia and massage, you are doing something positive for your health. You will start to feel the benefits immediately, and they have the potential to be long-reaching and profound benefits.
