Fibromyalgia and Physical Therapy
Nearly 5 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic condition causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. It can be difficult to manage and can severely impact quality of life. The best treatment plans combine exercise, modalities and education. Physical therapists are experts in all three, so they're the perfect practitioner to help!
EXERCISE
Recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia include patient education and non-pharmacological interventions. The right exercise routine can help with pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and more. A combination of strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercise is the most effective. You and your PT will work together to find the right type and intensity of exercise to best manage your symptoms.
MODALITIES
Modalities are manually applied agents that assist in healing, such as heat, cold, gentle manual therapy, and massage. These modalities have been shown to help reduce pain and muscle stiffness caused by fibromyalgia.
EDUCATION
Education is another important component in treating fibromyalgia. A physical therapist spends more time with their patients than most other practitioners. They have the time to help you understand what's going on, and what you can do about it. Research shows that people with more knowledge about their condition have better outcomes, more confidence, and cope better.
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapists can help with pain management, strength, mobility, fatigue and function to help patients find relief from their symptoms.
