Fibromyalgia and Aquatic Therapy

Physical Therapy and Fibromyalgia in Lancaster, PA

The best treatment for fibromyalgia can be found at The Rehab Center - Physical Therapy. Serving Lancaster County since 1992, The Rehab Center now has eight locations, including Ephrata, Denver, New Holland, Lititz, Brownstown, Lancaster, Leola, and Honey Brook, PA.

Fibromyalgia is a common problem we see in our physical therapy patients. Many fibromyalgia patients come to our clinics with another diagnosis. They may come because of low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or knee pain. Some are coming because they just had a total knee replacement, or a rotator cuff repair. The physical therapy we provide to a patient with fibromyalgia is modified because of the unique nature of this syndrome.

Physical Therapy and Fibromyalgia

The National Institutes of Health states that Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) says that to receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia someone must have a history of widespread pain lasting more than 3 months, and the presence of diffuse tenderness. Pain is considered to be widespread when it affects all four quadrants of the body, meaning it must be felt on both the left and right sides of the body as well as above and below the waist. ACR also has designated 18 sites on the body as possible tender points. To meet the strict criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis, a person must have 11 or more tender points.

Aquatic Therapy is the Best: Physical Therapy and Fibromyalgia

Research suggests that the best pain relief for fibromyalgia comes when physical therapy is combined with AQUATIC THERAPY. The Rehab Center has two locations with Aquatic Therapy pools for our fibromyalgia patients. The first is The Rehab Center in Ephrata and the second is The Rehab Center in New Holland.

Here are six (6) great things about aquatic therapy in New Holland and Ephrata that might help convince you to try it.

1. The relaxing effect of warm water on fibromyagia pain.

The Rehab Center provides aquatic therapy in New Holland and Ephrata, PA. The water

[caption id="attachment_159" align="alignright" width="259" caption="Aquatic Therapy for Fibromyalgia"][/caption]

in each of these pools is kept at the optimal therapeutic temperature of 92 degrees. This has the effect of softening stiff muscles and joints, improving blood flow, and improving range of motion.

2. Decreased effects of gravity.

Being in water reduces the stressful effects of gravity on painful muscles and joints. With the water at chest-level body weight is reduced by up to 80%. This can increase the ability to exercise longer and get a more pain-free workout. It also takes stress off of your joints, decreasing the normal wear and tear you might normally experience from land-based exercise.

3. The strengthening properties of water resistance for fibromyalgia.

Water is a great environment to exercise in because it can provide resistance in all directions. A full-body workout with aquatic therapy in New Holland is more easily achieved, more muscles can be activated, and the resistance level can be controlled by the speed with which you move through the water.

4. Water Jet Massage.

Everybody loves the water jet massage at the end of their aquatic therapy in New Holland. The soothing feeling of fast-flowing water massaging sore back or leg muscles is a nice treat. You will not want to leave.

5. The Under-water Treadmill

And finally, ask any of our aquatic therapy patients at The Rehab Center in New Holland and they will tell you the best thing about aquatic therapy is the under-water treadmill in our state-of-the-art Hydroworx pool.  (Click Here to see a video: Aquatic Therapy – New Holland)

Physical Therapy and Fibromyalgia: Additional Points

It is not easy to treat fibromyalgia. There are many factors that will contribute to the successful treatment. For some patients the factor is improving sleep at night. For others it is increasing activity throughout the day. One thing is clear. Physical therapy and fibromyalgia are a good mix when people are looking for pain relief.