A commonly diagnosed, soft-tissue condition in many branches of health care, including chiropractic, is fibromyalgia (FM). It is a chronic illness causing tremendous physical pain and extreme fatigue. A study of published research has been conducted to determine which chiropractic treatments, and the quality of those treatment approaches, are most commonly used to manage FM. The study emphasized conservative, non-drug therapies as opposed to medication-based therapies.
Chiropractic care is based on the idea that pain and illness may be caused by a skeletal structure that is misaligned. Chiropractors believe that restoring your skeletal balance may eliminate pain symptoms. Common chiropractic treatment options such as massage, acupuncture, muscle-strengthening exercises, spinal manipulation, herbs, vitamins, and dietary modifications were all found to be significantly beneficial in the management of FM. Although not typical forms of chiropractic care, cognitive behavioral therapy and aerobic exercise were also found to be very beneficial. Accordingly to the study, chiropractic treatment is advantageous in the management of FM.
Those suffering with FM who do not want the risk of post-surgical complications and drug-related side effects, find chiropractic care appealing since it includes a variety of non-surgical, non-drug treatments. Fibromyalgia patients require a treatment approach that is multidimensional and a health care provider who is experienced with holistic concepts. Inflammation is the core of many disease processes including FM. It has been suggested that following a gluten-free diet may reduce inflammation. It is also important to exercise and sleep well.
This condition can be primary, and the specific cause may not be well understood. It can also be secondary to an underlying condition or injury. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between primary and secondary being that other conditions may be present or may arise at the same time as FM. Treating the other conditions that may be present could improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia, and focusing on treatments which address the physical and emotional issues of the patient may provide satisfying results.