Fibromyalgia is a condition of widespread chronic pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points on the body where slight pressure causes pain. Fibromyalgia occurs in about 2 percent of our population.
Women are more likely to develop the disorder than men, and the risk increases with age. Fibromyalgia symptoms can begin after a trauma, but in most cases there appears to be no specific cause. The pain associated with fibromyalgia is described as a constant dull ache arising from tender muscles. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of the body and above and below the waist.
The cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Patients experience pain in response to stimuli (e.g. touch, stress) that are normally not perceived as painful. Researchers have found:
· increased levels of a nerve chemical called substance P in the spinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients.
· the brain chemical serotonin is relatively low in patients with fibromyalgia.
· the brains of those with fibromyalgia may be hypersensitive and have disturbances in how pain is perceived.
· people with fibromyalgia have impaired sleep phases which may explain the common symptoms of waking up fatigued and unrefreshed.
Studies show that exercise is one of the most important approaches to fibromyalgia pain relief. Regular exercise increases the body’s production of endorphins, natural opioids that boost mood and decrease pain. Starting slowly and gradually increasing the duration and intensity of exercise can help you enjoy the benefits of exercise without feeling more pain. Feldenkrais exercises are the perfect beginning.
The Feldenkrais Method is based on our current understanding of the processes involved in learning movement skills. It is a systematic approach to improving human movement and general functioning. The Feldenkrais Method uses simple, gentle movements to reorganize posture, flexibility, strength and coordination, and in the process provides fibromyalgia pain relief.
Named after Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, an Israeli physicist who developed the method to treat his own sports injury, the method offers a new approach to pain management. By integrating mind and body, and harnessing the power of brain plasticity, Feldenkrais exercises help the body function more efficiently. This creates environments in which chronic pain and injuries can heal.
The Feldenkrais Method provides fibromyalgia pain and stiffness relief. Feldenkrais encourages efficient muscle function helping to alleviate undue fatigue and pain. Regular visits will increase confidence with exercise, help eliminate painful muscles, and teach you more about your body and movement. This approach can help you to regain control of your illness by allowing you to focus on lifestyle changes rather than on the chronic pain. Most people are much more comfortable in less than a month, and this relief is lasting. Try Feldenkrais and see what it can do for you.
Topic: benefits of exercise, brain chemical, dull ache, feldenkrais method, fibromyalgia patients, fibromyalgia symptoms, gentle movements, ligaments and tendons, risk increases, sleep phases