It seems we see more and more clients who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia…and most of them are women. Perhaps that’s why National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day falls on May 12—right next to Mother’s Day.

So what is this major health concern affecting women? Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes exhaustion, sleep disturbances, and pain in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. According to an article for the Society for Women’s Health Research*, fibromyalgia may affect as much as 3-6 percent of the U.S. population, and it is more common in women than in men.

Aside from predominantly affecting women, the article states several risk factors for fibromyalgia:

Because the causes of fibromyalgia are not clear and no cure exists, the goal of treating fibromyalgia is to control symptoms and minimize discomfort.

According to several research studies at The University Of Miami School of Medicine, Touch Research Institute, massage therapy provides the following benefits to fibromyalgia patients: increased serotonin level, decreased circulating stress hormones, decreased levels of substance P (basically a pain messenger), decreased tender point pain, improved sleep patterns, and improved overall sense of well-being. In short, massage therapy, in conjunction with the treatment plan prescribed by a physician, can help patients manage the pain.

(*source: Jennifer Wider, M.D., Fibromyalgia Affects Women More Often than Men, Society for Women’s Health Research, April 24, 2008)

For more information:

National Fibromyalgia Research Association
Web site: http://www.nfra.net/

National Fibromyalgia Association
Web site: http://www.fmaware.org/

This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 6:12 pm and is filed under Health Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.