How does fibromyalgia affect movement?

Fibromyalgia describes a cluster of symptoms including fatigue, tender areas of the body, muscle pains and changes in mood. These symptoms typically occur from long-term pain and an over-active sympathetic nervous system. This system is part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the fight or flight response. Generally, fibromyalgia is musculoskeletal pain and tenderness that affects many areas of your body. The pain is usually accompanied by other symptoms like anxiety, depression, headaches, and fatigue. Pain always makes movement more difficult, especially with how widespread fibromyalgia pain can be. You may not realize it, but you are probably compensating for painful areas with less effective movement patterns that may turn into secondary problems down the road.

How can physical therapy help?

When you go to physical therapy for your fibromyalgia symptoms, your therapist will work to maximize your quality of life and reduce pain, depending on how severe your pain is. Managing your pain with natural solutions like improving posture and increasing strength with exercise can help you move better. Depending on what you need, your physical therapist will walk you through light intensity strengthening exercises and assess your posture to see where you can improve. They will also teach coping mechanisms for your specific issues and help you reduce pain and the risk of further injury.

It may seem that reducing movement provides the most relief for your pain, but in reality, your body needs both movement and rest to heal. Your physical therapist wants to be an advocate for your well-being, bringing together all the information from your care team and giving you practical steps you can take at home to reduce as much pain as possible. Your therapist’s ultimate goal should be to encourage independence in your pain management so you can maintain your daily activities.