The New Understanding of Fibromyalgia Exercise Physiology vs to Medication

In the past, some have regarded the fibromyalgia diagnosis with some scepticism due in large part to a limited understanding of the disease’s biological causes. Fibromyalgia is a very common, chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in multiple specific points. A growing body of clinical investigations and a growing expert consensus now points to the neurologic bases for fibromyalgia, leading to the disease’s classification as a central sensitivity syndrome, and reaffirming the credibility of the diagnosis. In central sensitivity syndromes, the nervous system gets “wound up” and regulates pain with a chronic state of high sensitivity. Research now connects fibromyalgia with abnormalities in specific brain regions involved in the processing of pain and with genetically influenced, abnormally low, serotonin levels. However, these biologic causes for fibromyalgia do not mean that the condition is completely out of a person’s control.

             Exercise therapy has long been established as a potent treatment for fibromyalgia – comparable to pharmacological interventions. Exercise is known to help reset central sensitivity syndromes such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, and with the guidance of an experienced exercise physiologist, exercise therapy can prove particularly beneficial. Studies using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) have even demonstrated how exercise therapy normalizes the connectivity between areas of the brain involved with pain processing, pain regulation, and the subjective rating of pain – especially in people with fibromyalgia. Research with thousands of patients with fibromyalgia has shown how exercise therapy can reduce pain, increase a person’s sense of wellbeing, improve physical function, reduce depression, and reduce tender points. Exercise therapy for fibromyalgia commonly involves graded exercises that start at a baseline, achievable level. Then, with the guidance of an experienced physiotherapist, the exertion levels are safely increased gradually to levy a greater effect on the fibromyalgia.

At Advanced Physiotherapy, we provide the added advantage of consultation with our accredited exercise physiologist. Diet choices can exacerbate fibromyalgia. Our exercise physiologist can provide nutritional advice and direction in addition to exercise therapy. Our exercise physiologist is also available to supervise group exercise sessions that can lower healthcare costs while increasing fun and comradery. Advanced also makes available aquatic therapy, which has been demonstrated to be an effective form of rehabilitation for patients with fibromyalgia.