Fibromyalgia is a highly debilitating condition with variable combinations of persistent, widespread musculoskeletal pain, debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction and psychological distress.
The prevalence of these conditions is increasing, and it can be challenging for patients to get a clear diagnosis and effective treatment.
The management of this complex condition has perplexed the medical community for many years, and several national and international guidelines have aimed to address this complexity.
What has become clear from the research is that an individualized approach to patient care is imperative, and that pharmacological therapy should be considered as an adjunct to non-pharmacological intervention such as meditation, gentle physical exercise, water aerobics, tai chi, qi gong and yoga.”
Kim Lawson, Academic Editor Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition with unknown aetiology. The pathophysiology of the disease is incompletely understood; despite advances in our knowledge with regards to abnormal central and peripheral pain processing, and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction, there is no clear specific pathophysiological therapeutic target.
Research has suggested that traditional Eastern practices such as tai chi, qigong and yoga can relieve fibromyalgia symptoms. There is no proof that other complementary or alternative treatments help. People who have fibromyalgia often try out a lot of different things to relieve their pain and cope better in everyday life.
