Alternative therapies fibromyalgia
The treatment of conventional treatment of fibromyalgia consists of three pillars:
• Non-impact aerobic exercise (swimming, stationary bicycle, elliptical trainer)
Among the most common are :
Yoga. As part of your daily yoga routine, be sure to include poses that stretch and strengthen your joints, muscles and nerves. These include the knee squeeze, spine twist, easy bridge and cobra. These will help reduce the pain of muscle spasms by keeping you more flexible.
Controlled breathing There is a direct connection between how you breathe and the amount of tension you hold in your body. When you're feeling stress, your muscles tighten, and your breath becomes shallow and faster. That actually changes the ratio of gases in your bloodstream, which can contribute to more muscle tension and, consequently, more fibromyalgia-related pain. Taking full, deep, slower breaths reverses the stress response and helps muscles to relax. Sit up straight, loosen your clothes if necessary, and exhale fully, emptying your lungs. On this full exhale, your breathing muscles pull in tight under your rib cage and sternum. Then, inhale fully, filling your abdomen with air, like a balloon. Expand your breath into your rib cage. Focus on your breathing and let your thoughts drift away. Do this for a few minutes whenever you feel muscle tension beginning to build. Acupressure and acupuncture
If you have specific tender points that are particularly painful, you can use acupressure to help calm them down. Simply find the spot with your fingertips and press, gradually increasing the pressure. The spot may initially feel sore, but within a few seconds, the pain should start to ease off, and you will feel the muscle relax. For hard-to-reach places on your back, you can lie down and roll your back on a tennis ball. Acupuncture, by stimulating endorphin release, can also relieve the pain of fibromyalgia. Chiropractic Chiropractic is one of the most often used types of alternative therapy, especially for chronic pain illnesses, such as fibromyalgia. It is based on the belief that certain conditions are caused by impairment of your nervous system due to problems in your joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones. Chiropractors have been shown to successfully treat several conditions, including fibromyalgia, by manipulating joints with stretches and adjustments. A recent study showed that following for weeks of treatment, 21 patients with fibromyalgia improved compared with control subjects receiving medication alone. Further, chiropractic care often incorporates many different types of treatments including massage, electro-stimulation, exercise, lifestyle changes, and nutrition. They can also provide you with worthwhile advice on improved ergonomics and biomechanical imbalance.
Massage Massage involves the practitioner moving the muscles and underlying tissues with their hands or a special device. Many therapists also provide heat and cold therapies to stimulate blood flow and ease tired muscles. The various types of massage include: Shiatsu, deep connective tissue, Swedish and myofascial release. Massage therapy allows the blood circulation to the muscles to increase. This helps to flush out any toxins that may have accumulated in the muscles while at the same time increasing the flow of nutrients to the muscles. This will allow the sore muscles to relax, thereby reducing the pain, stress and anxiety caused by them. Massage therapy may also help to reduce your heart rate, improve range of motion in your joints and increase production of your body’s natural painkillers (endorphins). Myofascial release technique is utilized specifically to relieve tightness and restricted movement of the body’s connective tissue. This is especially beneficial for fibromyalgia sufferers since this is a disorder of the fibrous or connective tissue. When done correctly, myofascial release can help lengthen connective tissue and reduce its pull on the skeletal system. Some people report that this offers them long-term relief. Deep-tissue massage is a vigorous type of massage used to loosen areas of hardened or inflexible muscles and associated tissues. It improves some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, but the effects are generally temporary. If you are getting a massage for the first time or from a new practitioner, you should inform them of your fibromyalgia and work with them to find a pressure that will be relaxing and not so heavy that it causes you to tense up. Although massage is almost always safe, avoid it if you have open sores, acute inflammation or swelling, or circulatory problems. Craniosacral therapy This is a gentle, non-invasive method of evaluating and enhancing the function of the brain and the spinal cord. Craniosacral therapists will use their hands to encourage the body’s natural healing mechanisms to improve the operation of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of the stress, enhance health, and strengthen resistance to disease.
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