Behavioral therapy plus exercise may ease fibromyalgia
(Reuters Health) – For people with troubling cases of fibromyalgia, a combination of behavioral counseling and exercise therapy tailored to their specific needs may bring some symptom relief, a new study suggests.
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome marked by widespread aches and pains — including discomfort at specific “tender points” in the body — along with symptoms such as fatigue and sleep problems. It is estimated to affect up to 5 million U.S. adults, most commonly middle-aged women.
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, and the condition can prove difficult to treat. Standard treatments include painkillers, antidepressants, cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise therapy.
Recent studies have suggested that combinations of these therapies seem to work better than any treatment alone. A review of nine clinical trials, for example, found that at least in the shorter term, fibromyalgia patients treated with multiple therapies got more relief from pain, depression and fatigue than those given a single therapy.
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Even a little activity helps fibromyalgia pain
By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer
Short bursts of activity can help ease the discomfort of fibromyalgia, a condition associated with long-term pain and tender joints, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Approximately 10 million Americans suffer from the condition, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association. The condition has been linked to chronic fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, and constant headaches.
The study looked at 84 minimally active adults with fibromyalgia. The patients were randomly put into two groups; either the “Lifestyle Physical Activity’” (LPA) group or the Fibromyalgia Education (FME) group. LPA involves moderate-intensity physical activity based around everyday life such as taking the stairs instead of using an elevator, gardening and walking. In this study, participants were taught to perform LPA intense enough to cause heavy breathing, but not so vigorous that they could not hold a conversation. In the FME group, participants only received information and support about their fibromyalgia, but no activity plan.
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