Living with Fibromyalgia is tough. While the condition is known for its up and downs, it can be severely debilitating. In this post, we look specifically at physical therapy and explore how it can help people with FM.
People think of physical therapy in a number of ways, so to begin with, we thought it best to clarify exactly what we mean when we talk about it.
Physical Therapy Explained
Physical Therapy services focus on treatment, healing, and prevention.
If you live with Fibromyalgia, one of the biggest factors your physical therapy will focus on is regaining control by trying to prevent or reduce the number of flare-ups you experience.
We typically look at changes you can make to your lifestyle, as opposed to focussing on the stiffness, tiredness, and general chronic pain that so-often comes hand in hand with this condition.
By utilizing gentle, effective, and safe techniques can indeed help to ease some of the pain you experience with FM, along with helping to relieve some of the other symptoms.
Essentially, the different types of physical therapy that can be used are either Active or Passive treatments.
What are examples of active treatments for Fibromyalgia?
Active treatments for FM include flexibility and strengthening, which both help to improve a person’s range of motion while building up muscular strength.
Low-impact aerobic exercises can also help, and although it is relatively gentle, it is still highly effective.
What are examples of passive treatments for Fibromyalgia?
Heat therapy, hydrotherapy, deep tissue massage, ultrasound, and Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation TENS are all examples of passive treatments for this condition.
Can a physical therapist help with Fibromyalgia?
Professional physical therapists will typically have a background in kinesiology and anatomy, which is the study of movement.
These skills help physical therapists to develop strengthening and stretching programs that are tailored to the individual’s needs. They work with all types of individuals, including those of infant age through to adult.
The specific services a physical therapist could provide to a patient with Fibromyalgia include those who can help with mobility and restoring function, pain relief, and generally helping in trying to limit or even prevent some of the physical disabilities that the condition may cause.
If you have Fibromyalgia, then working with a physical therapist can help you restore your overall levels of health and fitness.
Will the pain from Fibromyalgia improve with physical therapy?
At present, there isn’t a cure for Fibromyalgia, but there are a number of changes you can make to your lifestyle that can help with some of the pain. Physical therapy can help to reduce fatigue and stiffness.
Alongside exercise, physical therapists may also use hydrotherapy, deep tissue massage, or heat and ice packs. Together, these resources can help people suffering from Fibromyalgia to stretch for better flexibility, utilize their muscles and their joints through a series of range-of-motion exercises.
At Stilwell Memorial Hospital, our experienced team of physical therapists will tailor a treatment program around your individual needs and specific symptoms you are experiencing. Any treatment plan could include a combination of both active and passive treatments.
Contact us today for an initial chat about your needs and how we can help you.
