Fibromyalgia

Overview of Massage for Fibromyalgia:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder where the pain is widespread and multiple points of sensitivity (trigger points) across the body can generate excruciating pain with light touch. Other associated symptoms include: fatigue, anxiety, joint stiffness, difficulty sleeping, GI/Bowel issues.

Massage therapy has been shown to be helpful for persons suffering from fibromyalgia. In addition to reduction of pain symptoms, massage therapy can address underlying musculoskeletal issues, removing knots, trigger points, adhesions, and other physical abnormalities caused by poor posture, injury, unbalanced use of muscles, etc.

Benefits of Massage for Fibromyalgia:

• increase circulation
• reduce pain
• improve mood, reduce depression
• improve range of motion
• address structural causes of trigger points and tender points

How Massage helps Fibromyalgia:
Today its unclear what causes Fibromyalgia, so its unclear how massage therapy addresses root causes. Symptomatically, massage therapy uses direct, skilled work manipulating muscle and connective tissue. This increases circulation and can remove "knots", trigger points, adhesions, and entrapped nerves and connective tissue. The touch also releases endorphins and other chemicals that can improve feelings of well-being.

Massage Styles relevant to Fibromyalgia:

Trigger Point
Swedish
Myofascial
Craniosacral
Neuromuscular
PNF

Studies of Massage for Fibromyalgia
http://www.hffcf.org/articles_3.php
Phase 1: "Massage therapy sessions consisted of Swedish massage stroking of the head, neck, shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs, and feet for 30 minutes. In the massage therapy group, both the dolorimeter readings and the rheumatologist's rating of clinical condition improved. These subjects reported fewer symptoms at the end of the study, including less pain over the past week, less stiffness, less fatigue, and fewer nights of difficult sleeping."
Phase 2: "Participants received a massage twice a week for 5 weeks by a volunteer professional massage therapist. Over the course of the study, the massage therapy group as compared to the relaxation therapy group experienced decreased depression, improved sleep (a greater number of hours sleeping and fewer sleep movements), decreased symptoms (including pain, fatigue, and stiffness), improved assessments by the physician (on course of disease and pain), a decrease in the number of tender points, and a reduced Substance P level."

Resources for Fibromyalgia
http://www.fmaware.org
http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_massage.html
http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/mt/archives/2006/01/nine_massage_t...