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ADVANCED CPD ◆
Understanding and treating fibromyalgia through advanced massage techniques Fibromyalgia in a nutshell
“It is as if all of my joints were locked and I am caught inside, as though imprisoned in a kind of body or an envelope that has padlocks inside, like doors that I cannot open.” Fibromyalgia patient interview (Valenzuela-Moguillansky, 2012) Frustrating or fascinating – the complex world of Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) can be one of the most challenging conditons to treat as a complementary therapist. Seemingly random and unrelated symtoms such as dizziness, aches, pains, sleep disturbance, ‘brainfog’, sore throat, heightened sensitivity and exhaustion are typical of the pathology And that’s just for starters! When you add into the mix the commonly co-related stress and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder, you can see why the average therapist’s heart can sink a little at the prospect of successful treatment. . To make things even more complex, the delicate balance of the fibromyalgic conditiion means that it is not unusual for ‘normal’ massage treatment to result in increased pain and symptoms for the client. Yet with a little knowledge and time, the well trained massage therapist can provide great relief for this complex conditon. The use of appropriate soft tissue techniques twinned with an understanding of the underlying psychological and physiological processes can bring about radical and long lasting change. 30
ISSUE 118 2023
In a nutshell, fibromylagia is a ‘syndrome’ – in other words a name given to a collection of symptoms. The symptoms can be endless (as we will see below) but in short, FMS can be mainly characterized by pain, fatigue, and sleep disruption. FMS commonly exists with mental health and emotional issues including anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and general depression. Its prevalence in the general population is around 1%-2% and is more common in women (3.4% for women and 0.5% for men)
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