About 30 years ago, when doctors couldn’t really identify a perplexing medical opinion, they labeled it “Fibromyalgia”. Not many took it seriously and the patients got the impression that the medical community thought all these chronic symptoms were in the patient’s head! Fast forward to the last 15 years or so and Fibromyalgia is a little more understood, but not completely. I blogged on Fibromyalgia about 4 years ago. As the number of people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia is significantly increasing, it bears looking at why that is, what it is, and what actually helps!
As every Fibromyalgia sufferer knows, this is a chronic disease. It manifests in long-lasting pain and tenderness throughout your body. There is also fatigue, increased/higher sensitivity to pain, and trouble sleeping (insomnia). Fibromyalgia often leads to decreased work productivity, functioning, and quality of life. Besides muscle and joint stiffness, Fibromyalgia can cause numbness/tingling in the legs and/or arms, “fibro fog” (problems concentrating, memory, thinking clearly), sensitivity to temperature, smells, light, and/or noise, and various digestive issues.
Exercise has been recommended for fibromyalgia treatment. Current treatment modes consist of exercise (or other movement therapy), medications, behavioral therapy, and psychological counseling. The worst part: no one knows what causes it and, so far, there is no cure!
Anyone can get it but it usually affects more women than men and often starts in middle age. Research and/or brain studies have shown evidence that the nerve pathways that transmit and receive pain in these patients are altered. Authorities feel that it may even have an unknown genetic component because there is a tendency for it to run in families. And, unfortunately, for the symptoms to get worse as you age!
If you are interested in knowing more about Fibromyalgia and/or other auto-immune diseases, I recommend reading The Body Keeps the Score, by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk. It’s a very interesting and informative read.
Relieving the chronic pain of Fibromyalgia is complicated. There are many procedures and methods available in medical offices, pain clinics, etc. Because of the prevalence of Fibromyalgia in the population, there have been (and continue to be) quite a few studies on the effects of alternative medical treatments. Some patients have found acupuncture helpful, while others got no relief. It has been discovered that Traditional Chinese exercise can play an important role in alleviating symptoms.
Research has been showing exercises, like Tai Chi, which engage both the mind and the body are helpful! Tai Chi uses adaptive exercise, meditation, and “mind-body interaction” to lessen the chronic pain of Fibromyalgia. In fact,Tai Chi is one of the “most recommended exercise/wellness routines.” As well as reducing your pain, Tai Chi can improve your mental health and well-being!
Aerobic exercise has long been recommended for patients suffering from Fibromyalgia. Even a 30 minute brisk walk can help. However, even that walk can feel challenging to some with the fatigue that often comes with Fibromyalgia. Because Tai Chi emphasizes breathing, balance, mindfulness, and movement control, patients found that not only did they feel significantly better, they also experienced a decrease in anxiety and an increase in confidence! Many patients were even able to decrease the amount of pain relievers they were taking.
A couple of months after my original blog, an article was published in The American Family Physician Journal. A systematic review and prospective, single-blind study determined that Tai Chi (Yang Style) was effective in improving quality of life for patients with Fibromyalgia. All studies (self reported) favored Tai Chi. When compared with aerobic exercise, interestingly, the biggest benefit was seen when participants practiced twice a week for 24 weeks. No significant adverse effects where reported.
A meta-analysis (study) in the October 2023, International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases reported improvement in “pain relief, quality of life, sleep improvement, and emotion regulation” in patients with Fibromyalgia practicing Tai Chi.
Bottom line: Tai Chi is an exercise with no adverse reactions reported and many benefits! Certainly worth a try, isn’t it?
Note: while most patients get relief from Tai Chi, do keep in mind that especially if your pain is not significantly reduced, the study participants felt that they could manage their pain better, had more energy, and that they had better control over their bodies and their quality of life!
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