Fibromyalgia's characteristic muscle fatigue and pain used to confound physicians and patients alike. In the past, physicians sometimes viewed it as insignificant discomfort, leaving sufferers at a loss for treatment. However, this debilitating condition has slowly gained acceptance as a treatable muscular disorder, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association. Treatments to alleviate the condition are increasingly explored and tested. Gym balls may contribute to recovery.
The Nature of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is considered a syndrome rather than a disease, states the NFA, with grouped symptoms rather than one single, identifiable cause. This is partly why the condition has been so difficult to understand and treat; it involves not only widespread muscle pain but also achy joints, sleep deficit and mental distress. In some cases, these symptoms lead to severe incapacitation. Medications, massage and acupuncture can relieve some symptoms by controlling pain, and improving both circulation and neuromuscular function. Exercise balls can confer these benefits as well.
Stability Balls and Self-Massage
Exercise balls, often found in physiotherapy centers and gyms, are large, plastic inflatables. Also called stability balls, they maximize neuromuscular coordination and are excellent for promoting balance and muscle control. Since fibromyalgia affects your muscles, training them to respond to normal stimuli is important to reducing discomfort. For example, when you lie on your back on a gym ball, press into its firm curve and slowly roll the ball so that it hits tight hamstring, butt, hip and back muscles, you create a massage effect that "wakes up" tense muscles to external pressure. Thus, like massage, the ball relieves muscle tension and hypertonus, or excess muscle tone, a major cause of cramping and discomfort. The ball's instability forces your nervous system to maximize balance, improving neuromuscular control.
Well-Placed Pressure
A variation of the stability ball is the Poz-A-Ball, a miniature stability ball only 4- to 8-inches in diameter. It is excellent for myofascial release, and techniques to reduce muscle tension and its associated effect on related nerves, tendons and ligaments. The word "myofascia," from the Latin "myo" for muscles and and "fascia," for band, addresses abnormally tight connective tissue, or fascia, throughout your body. Fascia can sometimes be so tough and steely it pulls muscles and nerves out of alignment; applying strong, direct pressure to the fascia is something these tiny stability balls do better than the large balls. Again, you place the ball underneath the painful muscle and slowly roll over and around the area. This can release tight fibers of both fascia and the muscle itself.
Gym Ball Therapies And Others
Fibromyalgia's multiple components requires reducing both physical and mental tension. Target physical pain with instability balls and Poz-A-Balls -- or even tennis balls. Explore the relationship between psychological and physical pain; the two are so closely intertwined, you might find optimal mental relief via your gym ball exercises and self-massages. With fibromyalgia, relaxing your mind can be as important as relaxing your body tissues. As always, consider professional guidance for medical tips, mental therapies and even medications. Fibromyalgia is treatable.
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