According to one article published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 20% of U.S. adults are currently living with some form of chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is one condition that is contributing to such statistics.
Fibromyalgia is nerve condition that causes pain in many areas of the body. It can also lead to sleep, mood and memory issues. Physical therapy is an effective way to treat the symptoms of this chronic pain condition. In fact, there are two common types of physical therapy used for fibromyalgia treatment at the Horizon City, Texas, clinic of Border Therapy Services.
1. Electrical stimulation
Fibromyalgia is the result of nerves sending unnecessary pain signals to the brain. One physical therapy method that may help block these signals is electrical stimulation.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), or electrical stimulation for short, is a treatment that sends low-power electrical pulses into the body. Electrode pads are attached to the painful area of your body and connected to a TENS machine. The machine is then turned on, and this sends the electrical pulses into the body.
The reason that this therapy may help your fibromyalgia is that electrical stimulation is thought to block pain signals from the nerves. By blocking pain signals, this physical therapy method may be able to help reduce your fibromyalgia pain.
2. Therapeutic exercises
One issue that fibromyalgia pain often causes is that patients stop moving the painful areas of their body. This is called guarding, and it can actually lead to an increase in your pain. For instance, guarding an area can lead to muscle weakness, and this weakness can lead to less support for structures like joints. This is problematic because less support typically means increased pain.
However, there are several types of therapy exercises that may help you fight back against guarding and the additional pain it can cause. One type of therapy exercise that can help with this is range-of-motion exercises. These are designed to increase the range of motion of joints, and they’re often done with the therapist providing hands-on support. Strengthening exercises can also be used to increase the support provided by key muscles. Both types of exercises are designed to help reduce the pain caused by fibromyalgia.
Find the physical therapy you need for fibromyalgia treatment at Border Therapy Services
Border Therapy Services is proud to offer effective fibromyalgia treatment right here in Horizon City. Our experienced physical therapy team can build you a personalized treatment plan. This is important because fibromyalgia affects every patient differently. Also, our treatment plans are designed to provide several benefits, including:
- Reducing pain
- Improving range of motion
- Increasing strength of supporting muscles
- Improving blood flow
- Raising cardiovascular fitness levels
If you’re living with fibromyalgia in Horizon City, take the next step to reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.