According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, fibromyalgia affects approximately 3 to 6 percent of the world population. People with fibromyalgia experience widespread pain, fatigue, problems sleeping and digestive issues. Unfortunately, current laboratory tests do not diagnosis fibromyalgia. However, the American College of Rheumatology recommends a tender point examination to examine pain sensitivity. Pressure on the tender point area renders the pain event. Ironically, therapists manipulate these same areas for fibromyalgia myofascial relief.
Tender Points
The National Institutes of Health states that tender points possess heightened pain sensitivity in patients with fibromyalgia. The 18 tender point sites of the body include muscles and fibrous tissue of the neck, shoulders, rib cage, elbows, chest, lower back, buttocks, knees and thighs. Fibromyalgia patients must have pain sensitivity at eleven out of the eighteen tender point sites in order to receive a positive diagnosis. Heightened pain sensitivity in certain body regions allows practitioners to provide treatment. Consequently, tender point relief directly involves muscle and fibrous tissue, called myofascia.
Understanding Myofascial Release
Many people with fibromyalgia use myofascial release as a method of pain relief. "The Myofascial Release Manual" by Carol Manheim explains myofascial release as an attempt to correct soft tissue dysfunction. The practitioner manually manipulates muscle through controlled stretches. Maximal relaxation of the muscle occurs when the therapist manipulates the muscle with a certain force, direction and duration of the stretch. Without this critical motion, the technique proves ineffective. Since the practitioner needs to communicate with the patient to interpret sensation of the stretch, successful myofascial release treatment depends upon quality feedback from the patient. Therefore, teamwork between therapist and patient leads to myofascial relief.
Benefits of Myofascial Release
Correcting dysfunction of the soft tissue may improve fibromyalgia symptoms, as suggested in "The Myofascial Release Manual." Location of pain plays a role in the application of the myofascial release technique. For instance, a tender point site of the neck may lead to headaches or eye pain. Applying a myofascial release technique at this tender point site could relieve the eye pain or lessen the headache. The duration of pain relief by myofascial release can vary from person to person. However, fibromyalgia patients may benefit from this technique after receiving multiple sessions.
Fibromyalgia Pain Management
Although myofascial release provides a method of pain management, fibromyalgia patients manage pain in other ways. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three pharmaceuticals in the treatment of fibromyalgia: pregabalin, duloxetine and milnacipran. The National Fibromyalgia Association states that narcotics, antidepressants or benzodiazepines may control pain in fibromyalgia patients. Many pharmaceuticals provide general myofascial pain relief in people with fibromyalgia. However, lidocaine injections into tender points provide relief to specific body regions. Nevertheless, the National Fibromyalgia Association recommends a gentle exercise program to help maintain muscle tone.
Myofascial Pain vs. Fibromyalgia
Myofascial pain differs from fibromyalgia. Myofascial pain involves the pain that occurs at a particular region of the body, as stated in the book "The First Year--Fibromyalgia." These regions relate to tender points. For example, the tender points of the lower back could involve myofascial pain in that location. Instead, fibromyalgia does not involve pain at a specific region. People with fibromyalgia experience widespread pain. Even though fibromyalgia entails myofascial pain, the presence of myofascial pain does not mean a person has fibromyalgia. The number of tender points that present with myofascial pain determines the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
References
- "The Myofascial Release Manual"; Carol Manheim, M.S., M.Ed., PT, LPC; 2008
- National Fibromyalgia Association: Prevalence
- National Institutes of Health: Fibromyalgia
- "The First Year--Fibromyaglia"; Claudia Craig Marek & Mari Florence; 2003
