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Massage therapy can be one of the most beneficial treatments for fibromyalgia patients. Such symptoms as pain, stiffness, fatigue, anxiety, and depression can be relieved with massage, because it increases oxygen and blood flow to the muscles and surrounding tissues. It also enhances the production of your body's natural pain blockers, endorphins, serotonin and norepinephrine. Massage works by creating relaxation and aiding in toxic flushing of waste product that have accumulated in the tissues. Massage can also promote deeper sleep, which is what most fibromyalgia patients are lacking.
The first question you should ask the massage therapist is "Do you know what fibromyalgia means"? If they can't answer this question, and "yes, I do" is not an answer, then you should run, not walk, to the nearest door, because you will probably end up in extreme pain when they are through. A good fibro massage should be a massage that incorporates stretching. Stretching keeps the muscles from getting stiff and fatigued. The massage should be a gentle circular motion with soft percussion movements to help with the knots and stress. Due to hypersensitivity associated with fibromyalgia, it is very easy to overtreat. A fibro person should never be given a deep tissue massage. Other options are hot stone therapy, warm moist towels, and heat pads also aid in a fibro massage.
These are only a few things you should know about fibro massage. Be sure to talk to the therapist during the treatment. They need to know if it is too hard or too soft. Each individual person is different, and how you respond to certain pressures is extremely important.
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