| Fibromyalgia is a condition of widespread chronic pain | | | | symptoms of waking up fatigued and unrefreshed. |
| in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as | | | | Studies show that exercise is one of the most |
| fatigue and multiple tender points on the body where | | | | important approaches to fibromyalgia pain relief. |
| slight pressure causes pain. Fibromyalgia occurs in | | | | Regular exercise increases the body's production of |
| about 2 percent of our population. | | | | endorphins, natural opioids that boost mood and |
| Women are more likely to develop the disorder than | | | | decrease pain. Starting slowly and gradually increasing |
| men, and the risk increases with age. Fibromyalgia | | | | the duration and intensity of exercise can help you |
| symptoms can begin after a trauma, but in most | | | | enjoy the benefits of exercise without feeling more |
| cases there appears to be no specific cause. The | | | | pain. Feldenkrais exercises are the perfect beginning. |
| pain associated with fibromyalgia is described as a | | | | The Feldenkrais Method is based on our current |
| constant dull ache arising from tender muscles. To be | | | | understanding of the processes involved in learning |
| considered widespread, the pain must occur on both | | | | movement skills. It is a systematic approach to |
| sides of the body and above and below the waist. | | | | improving human movement and general functioning. |
| The cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Patients | | | | The Feldenkrais Method uses simple, gentle |
| experience pain in response to stimuli (e.g. touch, | | | | movements to reorganize posture, flexibility, strength |
| stress) that are normally not perceived as painful. | | | | and coordination, and in the process provides |
| Researchers have found: | | | | fibromyalgia pain relief. |
| · increased levels of a nerve chemical called | | | | Named after Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, an Israeli physicist |
| substance P in the spinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients. | | | | who developed the method to treat his own sports |
| · the brain chemical serotonin is relatively low | | | | injury, the method offers a new approach to pain |
| in patients with fibromyalgia. | | | | management. By integrating mind and body, and |
| · the brains of those with fibromyalgia may | | | | harnessing the power of brain plasticity, Feldenkrais |
| be hypersensitive and have disturbances in how pain | | | | exercises help the body function more efficiently. |
| is perceived. | | | | This creates environments in which chronic pain and |
| · people with fibromyalgia have impaired | | | | injuries can heal. |
| sleep phases which may explain the common | | | | |