Deep Tissue Massage Therapy May Bring Fibromyalgia Relief in Marlboro NJ

Deep tissue massage therapy is one of the primary massage modalities touted to bring relief to the pain constantly plaguing fibromyalgia sufferers. Residents of Monmouth County, Englishtown, Manalapan, Morganville, Old Bridge, Freehold, Howell, Millstone, Matawan, Aberdeen and Colts Neck who are afflicted with fibromyalgia can avail of deep tissue massage therapy as well as reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy from a professional therapeutic massage spa in Marlboro NJ.

Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles and fibrous tissues. In fact, the word itself speaks of its literal meaning in Latin and Greek, where “fibro” is fibrous, “myo” is muscle and “algos” is pain. It afflicts about six million people in the United States and many millions throughout the world. Majority of those afflicted, up to eighty to ninety percent, are female.

It was only as recent as 1987 that the American Medical Association recognized fibromyalgia as a disease, though. Three years later, in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology declared that a diagnosis of fibromyalgia should be based on the identification of 18 common tender points in the body and a minimum of six months of widespread body pain.

The same 18 common tender points were recognized along with other symptoms of fibromyalgia in the Copenhagen Declaration of 1992 done by fibromyalgia specialists. Among the other fibromyalgia symptoms identified are tension headaches, migraines, impaired cognition, blurred vision, constant fatigue, intolerance of exercise, heart palpitations, numbness or tingling, painful menstrual periods, irritable bowels with bloating, gas and distention with pain, abnormalities in skin and fingernails, disrupted and non-restorative sleep, sleep apnea, restless legs in sleep and temperature sensitivity.

Although fibromyalgia has been named a biochemical imbalance, no cause has been identified yet for the condition. Heredity is considered as a factor, though. Because of the imbalance, there are low levels of amino acids and nerve transmitters like Tryptophan, Serotonin, Endorphins, Substance P and Enkephalins which are necessary for the body to achieve deep sleep that is restorative and for the alleviation of pain.

Without enough healing sleep, the body cannot manufacture enough growth hormones used for muscle repair and maintenance. Any minimal trauma of the muscles, tissues and fascia go unrepaired and pile up to add more pain. The patient soon experiences chronic pain. With pain, the muscles tend to contract further. This results in a vicious cycle. Muscle constriction limits blood circulation, oxygen delivery and nutritional delivery while also inhibiting the expulsion of metabolic toxins as waste, adding more causes of pain.

Even pain relief medication is often not very effective for fibromyalgia pain. In fact, because of its insufficiency in alleviating pain, there is often a tendency toward medication dependence or medication overdose.

Majority of patients who are afflicted with fibromyalgia have found more relief in deep tissue massage therapy. In 1996, a study has found that fibromyalgia patients who were given ten sessions of half hour massages felt as much as 38% less pain. Their sleep patterns also improved with better quality and longer hours. It is expected that with more regular and long term deep tissue massage therapy, even more long term and extensive relief can be achieved.

Deep tissue massage therapy helps relieve the pains of fibromyalgia, including chronic headaches, by increasing the circulation of blood, thereby improving oxygenation and helping flush out toxins. Deep tissue massage therapy also causes the production of Endorphins which fibromyalgia patients lack.

Fibromyalgia sufferers in Monmouth County, Englishtown, Manalapan, Morganville, Old Bridge, Freehold, Howell, Millstone, Matawan, Aberdeen and Colts Neck need not wallow in pain. They can ask for deep tissue massage therapy in the same professional therapeutic massage spa that offers reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in Marlboro NJ.