Internal Medicine

Fibromyalgia: Passive Physiotherapy Treatment

Note

This topic is a continuation of our Fibromyalgia topic.

The passive therapy measures in fibromyalgia serve primarily to over Trust building, relaxation (physical and mental = physical and mental) and pain relief the Prerequisite for the accompanying activating therapy from the start to accomplish. You can alleviate vegetative side effects and are a great way to cycle Fear / tension / pain / inactivity to break through and should take a backseat as the therapy continues. There may also be one due to the effects of the passive treatment techniques Reduction in the use of painkillers possible.

Physical therapy
massage
Lymph drainage for congestion problems
Trigger point treatment, also carefully, otherwise possible pain reaction
Cranio-sacral therapy
Possibly manual therapy to eliminate joint dysfunctionif present (not a primary symptom)
You can find more information about the individual passive treatments under our topic: physiotherapy

Physical therapy

From the field of physical therapy, the best Heat application of any kind (Fango / paraffin packs, grain bags, hot roll), sauna (moderate temperatures are often better tolerated), Rheumatism baths, and Movement in warm water proven.

It makes sense to carry out the movements in warm water under professional guidance, as there are many possible variations with and without devices that can make movement easier or more difficult.
In addition, the possibility of evasive movements in the water and in the group is much easier "than on land", so that the exercises are often not carried out correctly without supervision. The dosage and the increase in intensity are also easier in consultation with the therapist.

Amazingly, there are also good results from whole-body cryotherapy in the cold chamber (-110 °), although fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory disease. The reduction in pain immediately after cold therapy means that endurance and strength training are better tolerated. However, it comes with the

However, there was an increased number of therapy discontinuations with the whole body cold application (only 47% of the test subjects tolerated the cold) due to increased pain, ineffectiveness, Panic attacks and skin changes.
The results thus suggest that Fibromyalgia patient definitely the Cold chamber should test insofar as he has the opportunity to do so.

Fibromyalgia: massage

The techniques of classic massage and the Fascienbehamdlung (Fascien - connective tissue covering of the muscles and organs, ligaments and tendons) should with the Fibromyalgia syndrome At the beginning it should be done very carefully with little pressure, otherwise painful reactions may occur. The choice of technique and the increase in intensity are based on the patient's reaction to the treatment.

I would particularly like to emphasize the techniques of trigger point treatment, the fascia treatment using the fascia roll and ball, and the transverse friction at the tendon insertion stimuli. By carefully examining the affected tendon section at the tendon-bone transition or at the tendon-muscle transition, the painful structure can be precisely felt and treated with transverse friction (intermittent = alternation of pressure / tension and relief massage technique across the tendon). The individual findings and the patient's reaction are decisive for the selection and intensity of the techniques.

Fibromyalgia: lymphatic drainage

Manual lymph drainage is used as edema and decongestion therapy on the trunk of the body, the extremities and the head. Edema (lymphedema - swelling of the tissue due to the leakage of fluid from the vessels into the intercellular space) and congestion in the tissue arise due to inadequate transport, so more volume has to be removed from the intercellular space than the lymphatic vessels can create.

In ML, the therapist uses various grip techniques with alternating pressure and relief to support the pumping function of the lymph vessels and thus a higher flow rate. In this way edema can be better removed and the swelling of the tissue is reduced.

Further effects of ML are the psychological relaxation of the patient, pain relief in the tissues and in the skeletal muscles by reducing muscle tension.

In the case of fibromyalgia, swellings are mainly present in the morning in the area of the delicate tissue parts of the body - around the eyes, bags under the eyes, at the nerve exit points at the base of the skull, closed nose due to swollen mucous membranes, swollen fingers, feet. These edemas are usually clearly visible and noticeable e.g. Rings don't fit, morning headache!

So far there is no convincing explanation for the occurrence of this phenomenon in fibromyalgia, but the complaints potentiate the overall symptoms and are stressful for those affected.

Regular lymphatic drainage can help.

Fibromyalgia: Cranio-Sacral Therapy

The Cranio-Sacral Therapy offers an excellent start in the treatment of chronic pain symptoms and in particular of fibromyalgia patients, since the effects of the treatment are not limited locally, but take place in a generalized manner throughout the body and a relationship of trust can be established between the physiotherapist and the patient.

The cranio-sacral therapy is to be assigned to the alternative healing methods and is at the beginning of the 20th century by the doctor Dr. Sutherland on the basis of ostheopathy (manual medicine that considers and treats people in their entirety).

The name is derived Cranio-Sacral from the Latin words "cranium = skull" and "sacrum = sacrum“.
It is assumed that the rhythmic pulsation of the cerebral and spinal cord fluid (liquor) is transferred to external tissue and the skeletal system and can thus be felt by the therapist. The individual skull bones are also assumed to be mutually movable.

If the manual examination (palpation examination) shows abnormalities in this functional system (e.g. weakened or asymmetrical Cranio-sacral rhythm) the therapist can draw conclusions about disorders of other functional systems (organs, Musculature, Connective tissue, bones) of the body and treat them in a very gentle way.

Since the effects of cranio-sacral therapy have not been scientifically proven, this treatment is not a remedy that a doctor can prescribe, i.e. the health insurance companies do not cover the costs.

However, experience has shown that in many cases Pain relief and relaxation, especially about improved energy flow and the activation of the Self-healing processes of the body (physically and mentally) can be achieved.