Overcome the Trepidations of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is classified as chronic widespread body pain. The pain can migrate to all parts of the body and vary in intensity. Patients describe the pain as shooting, deep muscular aching, throbbing, and twitching. Symptoms associated with fibromyalgia often have a higher level of severity in the morning.
Most people with fibromyalgia also experience moderate to extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to touch, light, and sound, and cognitive difficulties.
According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, it is estimated that 6 -10 % of people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic pain disorder impacts millions of men and women of all ages and ethnicities all around the world and is more prevalent in women.
Patients seeking care for fibromyalgia are desperate to find a solution to their devastating health decline. With chronic pain patients it is always better to try and overcome musculoskeletal symptoms without the use of drugs or invasive procedures first.
A commonly overlooked strategy is postural correction in conjunction with Vibration Therapy. When the body is in proper alignment the amount of stress to the joints and tension absorbed by the musculoskeletal system is greatly reduced. Proper posture is also an effective way to reserve energy. When postural distortion patterns are present in the neck, back, and hips, patients are utilizing extra amounts of energy each minute of the day to hold their bodies upright against gravity.
The American Posture Institute recommends a 3-component system for superior postural correction. The 3-component system includes spinal alignment mobilization, posture rehabilitation, and posture habit re-education. Each component is required for neuroplastic re-education of the posture system.
Vibration Therapy, including whole body vibration and single muscle vibration, is a form of postural rehabilitation that is particularly beneficial for fibromyalgia patients.
3 Reasons Why Vibration Therapy is Effective in Combatting Fibromyalgia:
1) Handheld vibration utilized over the area of pain is effective in overriding the stimulus that the brain perceives as pain. Vibration has a profound effect on the posture system, the vibratory stimulus is sent to the central nervous system overriding the noxious pain response that the patient typically presents with. They feel instantaneous therapeutic relief that so many patients suffering from fibromyalgia seek to find.
2) Localized vibration is utilized to reduce muscular pain associated with trigger points and muscle spasms. Muscular pain can is common at the base of the neck, the lower back, and in the legs. Handheld vibration apparatuses are highly useful in reducing hypertonicity of spasmodic tissue. He vibration can be applied directly over the trigger point and utilized to massage the muscle contraction. This is a beneficial modality because patients with fibromyalgia will commonly resist manual relief of muscle spasms. With the utilization of Vibration Therapy, however, patients will commonly report that they feel like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders.
3) The benefits of Vibration Therapy are more than just musculoskeletal relief. Studies demonstrate that the utilization of whole body vibration results in higher levels of serotonin release. Serotonin is the hormone associated with pleasure, meaning that patients will feel satisfied about the care that they have received. Whole body vibration provides physical and mental benefits that the patients need to fully overcome the trepidations associated with the chronic disease fibromyalgia.
