Peak Physical Therapy

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues. Some believe that fibromyalgia affects the way your brain processes pain signals, amplifying painful sensations. Symptoms may begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection, or significant psychological stress, but may also gradually accumulate over time without a single triggering event.

Symptoms

Symptoms of fibromyalgia may include:

Pain and stiffness throughout the body
Fatigue and tiredness
Depression and anxiety
Sleep problems
Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration
Headaches/migraines
Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

It may co-exist with other painful conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome, or temporomandibular joint disorders.

Causes

A variety of factors working together may cause fibromyalgia, including genetics, infections, and physical or emotional trauma. The disorder tends to run in families, so there may be genetic mutations that make a person more susceptible to developing it. Some illnesses appear to trigger fibromyalgia, and it can sometimes be triggered by physical trauma or stress.

Risk Factors

Fibromyalgia can affect people of all ages, including children. Most are diagnosed during middle age, and you are more likely to have fibromyalgia as you get older. If you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, you are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. Women are twice as likely to have fibromyalgia as men. Other risk factors may include obesity, family history, illness, and repetitive injuries.

Improving Your Quality of Life

Physical therapy is extremely important in managing your symptoms, but self-care is vital to improving your daily function. Make time to relax each day to help reduce the stress that may bring on symptoms. Get into a regular sleep pattern to allow your body to repair itself, physically and mentally. Exercise often, slowly adding daily fitness into your routine.

How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Your Physical Therapist can provide properly monitored and managed physical activity. For example, our Aquatic Therapy program has a positive impact on motion and flexibility, reduces pressure to joints, and can increase the blood flow to the pained areas. Aquatic Therapy is a great way to gain motion.

At Peak Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, our four convenient locations give you greater access to the South Shore's best physical therapy services. The locations include Norwell, MA, Scituate, MA, Quincy, MA, and Hanover, MA. Our state-of-the-art facilities include access to the best treatments and equipment to ensure a fast recovery. We've even expanded our facilities to include access to therapy pools as well as indoor sports fields. If you're unsure whether physical therapy can help you, we offer a no-obligation FREE injury screening. Click here for more information.