Fibromyalgia and Massage
You’re in constant pain and you don’t know why. Everything seems to hurt even the smallest movement and fatigue overtakes your body each day. This is what it’s like living with fibromyalgia. I personally do not have it but have treated many people that do. Today, I’d like to share how massage applies to this condition and how those suffering can find relief.
What Is Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a nervous system disorder. You don’t feel your typical aches and pains as most people do. But it’s a general achiness that seems to overtake each muscle in the body. The nerve sends a message to the muscle. “Contract here” “tighten up over there” “lift up this item” and so on. It’s a beautiful connection that allows us to function well. However, because the nervous system is damaged, you cannot approach massage in the same way as a muscular injury. With fibromyalgia, the entire body aches all the time, so the approach in massage must be different.
Ask your massage therapist if they have experience working with fibromyalgia.
Mistakes
- Don’t downplay what you’re feeling. I urge family and friends to have compassion over those that experience this.
- Getting a deep tissue massage. I cannot emphasize this enough. Fibromyalgia is not about the muscles being “tight” as most of us understand but aching due to the nervous system sensation.. Yes, the person feels pain but it’s not only from muscular tightness. Deep tissue massage was designed for tension but it is not always appropriate for those with fibromyalgia. If a deep tissue massage is given the person will most likely experience so much pain they will not be willing to incorporate massage into their life. I recently had a client with fibromyalgia share her personal experience of her visit to a local mall. The massage therapist who worked on her dug their elbows into her back. She left that massage and was in pain for an entire week.
- Believing the pain levels will decrease until eliminated completely. Its important to set expectations and will fibromyalgia the pain levels return to nearly the same level. This can be very frustrating for both therapist and client. However, the treatment goal is to improve quality of life compared to eliminating muscle pain completely.
Deep tissue work may cause pain to those with fibromyalgia
Techniques
The Effleurage is a long stroke which allows the open hand to glide over the muscle tissue. The pressure is light to medium. If this technique is applied to the whole body it will serve the person with fibromyalgia immensely. Why do you ask? The open hand is a gentle way of introducing touch to the muscle tissue as is another technique called gentle compression. But I’ve discovered that most people benefit from the effleurage technique done over the body to relax the nerves in general.
Effleurage techniques work well with fibromyalgia massage.
The Cure
As of now, there is no cure for fibromyalgia but there are many natural methods and therapies one can create in their daily lifestyle which will decrease the level of pain. I have seen many people with this condition speak highly of the benefits of receiving regular massage. Please know that massage therapy will not permanently cure fibromyalgia but what it will do is increase a quality of life by easing the daily discomfort.
Medical Study
A 2007 study shows that the specific techniques of myofascial release and trigger point therapy were used to alleviate symptoms of those suffering from this condition. Most massage therapists trained in clinical or medical massage will be able to perform these techniques. Physical and Occupational therapists can also perform them however massage therapists typically have more time for manual therapy than Physical or Occupational Therapists. It’s encouraging to see that medical studies are supporting this research and publishing these finds. If you suffer from fibromyalgia share this study with your physician to raise awareness and referrals for natural therapies and bodywork.
