Alternative Therapies for Fibromyalgia: Myofascial Release & Massage

There are many alternative therapies for Fibromyalgia and each
individual may be affected differently by each therapy. A therapy
that works well for one may not benefit another as much or at all. It
is important to know what is available to you that can help better
your quality of life and help you manage your pain.
I have tried several different therapies and there are a few that
really helped and one in particular, was a life-saver! My hope is
that you can find a therapy that you can add to your conventional
treatment and gain freedom of movement and freedom from the stress and
depression that are caused by Fibromyalgia.

Integrative Medicine: The idea was developed to help medical and
other health professionals to expand their practices by and
integrating accessible effective Complementary/Alternative Medicine
(CAM) protocols for the treatment of their patients. This would bring
patients more complete care and give them all the help that is
available to improve their overall health. Some of the therapies
included are: Energy Therapies (including CMU Technology), Herbs and
Supplements, Nutrition, Lifestyle Strategies, Biochemical Approaches
and Structural, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies.

In this article, I will cover two structural, movement and mind-body
therapies: Myofascial Release Therapy & Massage Therapy.

Massage therapy helps with Fibromyalgia because it gently works on the
soft tissues (muscles, tendons, fascia and ligaments). Massage
increases circulation of blood to tight, sore muscles & increases
muscle tone. It is sometimes used in conjunction with ultrasound or
with the application of heat and/or cold packs. Massage is also often
helpful in removing built-up toxins such as lactic acid, and to help
re-educate muscles and joints that have become misaligned.
Massage also helps the movement of lymphatic fluid (removes body
wastes, toxins, pathogens), to release muscular tension, maintain
proper musculoskeletal structure and function, internal organs, the
central nervous system, the immune system, the endocrine system,
mind/body integration, and energy flow to promote healing and
emotional well-being.

Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on technique that
provides sustained pressure into myofascial knots to eliminate pain
and restore motion. To understand what Myofascial Release is and why
it works, you need to know what fascia is. Fascia is a thin tissue
that covers all the organs of the body. It is actually one structure
that exists from head to foot without disconnection. Myofascial
Release treats taut bands in the muscle by releasing the uneven
tightness in injured fascia. I was treated with the John Barnes method
of Myofascial Release after a car accident that inflamed my
Fibromyalgia symptoms and led to the discovery of myofascial trigger
points. Even if you do not have Chronic Myofascial Pain, you can
still benefit greatly from this therapy.

There are many more alternative therapy options out there and I will
continue to provide information about them in hopes of giving you and
your doctor the ability to make an informed decision about what
therapies might work for you.