More than six million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, a chronic syndrome characterized by numbness, joint stiffness, and widespread pain. Of these six million, over 90 percent are women. Some patients also experience headaches, anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises, and strong odors. If you are one of the many Americans suffering fibromyalgia, new research shows that massage therapy can help.
A 2011 study suggests that massage therapy is able to increase quality of life and decrease pain for fibromyalgia sufferers1. Seventy-four fibromyalgia patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (who received no massage treatment) and the experimental group (who received a massage therapy treatment). At the conclusion of the study, anxiety levels, quality of sleep, pain and quality of life had improved in patients who had received massage therapy.