09 Jan 5 benefits of massage for fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is an increasingly common and often debilitating chronic illness which is thought to affect over 1.5 million people in the UK alone. Researchers and medics are starting to understand more about fibromyalgia including possible causes and effective treatments.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic condition resulting in a variety of symptoms which vary in type and intensity from person to person. Fibromyalgia affects women more than men – and its development is thought to be connected to genetics and trauma or prolonged periods of stress.
Common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
- Widespread pain and stiffness, especially in the joints, muscles and bones
- Sensitivity to touch, light, sound and more
- Fatigue and extreme tiredness
- Headaches
- Impaired cognitive function (commonly known as ‘brain fog’) and difficulty focusing
- Poor sleep quality
- Anxiety and depression
- IBS and digestive disorders
- Susceptibility to allergies and reactions
It can be difficult to obtain a diagnosis for fibromyalgia, as often doctors can only identify it through a process of elimination. Many people suffer in silence or don’t receive the help they need with symptoms, which often worsen with stress resulting in a vicious cycle.
Currently there is no known cure for fibromyalgia – but many non-invasive complimentary treatments have been identified as having a positive impact on symptoms – including massage.
How can massage help symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Massage has a variety of targeted benefits which can help specifically with the symptoms of fibromyalgia. An increasing amount of research suggests that massage is one of the most effective alternative therapies available for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Although studies are ongoing, initial findings are promising and involve a number of the most distressing and debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia. Benefits include:
Reducing stress: Stress is a key trigger for symptoms of fibromyalgia. Often it can bring on a flare-up or make existing symptoms worse. Although tackling stress looks different for everyone and requires a multi-faceted approach, massage is a fantastic tool for easing stress alongside other management techniques. The warmth, nourishing oils, relaxing music and ambience as well as the rhythmic strokes of the massage itself all help to relieve mental and physical tension, easing symptoms of fibromyalgia. Massage can also help to increase serotonin levels, the ‘feel good’ hormone which reduces stress, anxiety and depression.
Easing pain: Pain is a common and often highly disruptive and uncomfortable symptom of fibromyalgia. This pain can be dull, aching and constant, stabbing and sharp – affecting all areas of the body including the bones, joints, muscles and skin. Massage helps to relieve this pain through targeted movements which help to release tension in the muscles and improve blood flow to joints, whilst also warming affected areas to soothe and minimise discomfort. Your massage can be targeted to focus on the areas where you most commonly experience pain – such as the head, neck, shoulders, arms or legs.
Releasing tension: Tension in the body caused by pain, stiffness and stress resulting from fibromyalgia can trigger further symptoms, causing a vicious circle. Massage releases tension from the muscles and loosens soft and connective tissues to help you feel lighter and freer whilst also providing pain relief.
Improving circulation: Therapeutic massage helps to improve the flow of blood and lymph fluid throughout the body, supporting improved circulation, nutrient distribution and detoxification. Some studies have also shown that environmental toxins can worsen fibromyalgia – so this could have additional benefits which have not yet been explored in detail.
Better sleep: Sleep disruption can be a particularly distressing symptom of fibromyalgia – including difficulty getting to sleep and disturbed sleep during the night. Massage has been shown in numerous studies to be an effective treatment for insomnia, due to its relaxing and soothing qualities. Due to the many other benefits of massage for fibromyalgia sleep quality can be greatly improved with regular appointments, in turn having a positive impact on other symptoms.
Book a massage for fibromyalgia today
Although preliminary studies suggest that many types of massage can be beneficial for the wellbeing of people suffering with fibromyalgia, therapeutic massage in particular is often recommended. This is because practitioners such as myself have received additional training which enables us to tailor each treatment to your individual needs and medical concerns. My approach combines clinical and holistic techniques, supporting complete relaxation as well as offering key benefits massage can bring to ease fibromyalgia symptoms.
Just one treatment can provide relief and benefits – but with a regular commitment to massage clients often find a significant improvement in symptoms over time.