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Freedom From FibromyalgiaYour Complete Guide To Pain Relief |
New Fibromyalgia Research
Without a definitive cause of or cure for fibromyalgia, researchers are constantly conducting studies to pinpoint effective ways to treat the syndrome that affects millions around the world. While scientists have yet to find a cure, new research is constantly emerging, offering hope and relief to fibromyalgia worldwide.
Some of the latest fibromyalgia research only confirms the idea within the medical community that there are numerous effective ways to alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. And, while researchers have not yet found a cure, the research on the effectiveness of treatments, indeed, offers fibromyalgia patients plenty of choices for combating their fibromyalgia symptoms.
Acupuncture works. In a study by researchers at Southern California University of Health Sciences, acupuncture was found to alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. The fibromyalgia research, released in early 2006, focused on 21 patients with an average age of 53.6 years who were administered acupuncture therapy for two months.
The study showed that with acupuncture therapy, the participants experienced substantial improvement. With this new fibromyalgia research, researchers concluded acupuncture had proven effective at alleviating the symptoms of the participants.
Similar fibromyalgia research on acupuncture, undertaken by the Mayo Clinic, also found that acupuncture helped relieving fibromyalgia patients of their symptoms.
Hydrotherapy more effective than conventional physiotherapy. Fibromyalgia research conducted by researchers in Brazil, released in early 2006, divided study participants into two groups: one group received hydrotherapy while the other underwent conventional physiotherapy. The study was designed to determine which therapy improved the participants overall life quality and their total sleep time (TST).
All participants – whether receiving hydrotherapy or conventional physiotherapy – saw an overall increase in their quality of life, but only those who underwent hydrotherapy saw improvements in their total sleep time. Furthermore, those same patients napped less with hydrotherapy. Ultimately, this latest fibromyalgia research offers hope for those with fibromyalgia who struggle with sleeping problems.
Aerobic exercise recommended. New fibromyalgia research out of France, also released in 2006, provides evidence that aerobic exercise, that concentrates on the muscles, provides both relief of symptoms and a better quality of life for fibromyalgia patients. Participants engaged in aerobic activity for a total of three months with the researchers concluding aerobic exercise is, indeed, valuable for those with fibromyalgia.
Home-based exercise helps. Many doctors encourage fibromyalgia patients to exercise at home, and the latest fibromyalgia research, released in 2005, confirms the effectiveness of exercise in those with fibromyalgia.
Researchers from the University of Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, conducted a three-month study whereby each participant was given an exercise regiment, individualized to their needs, that they were to follow at home. The study confirmed exercise may improve the symptoms of those with fibromyalgia.
Rehabilitation is possible. According to a study by British researchers from Liverpool John Moores University, fibromyalgia patients should seek more than one avenue of treatment for their illness. The fibromyalgia research points to such treatments as exercise and cognitive behaviour therapy.
The fibromyalgia research was conducted by reviewing already-published findings of the medical community. The researchers concluded that a combination of treatments offers the most efficient way of managing fibromyalgia patient’s symptoms.
Breastfeed with help. Assistant professor at Temple University Karen Moore Schaefer studied nine women with fibromyalgia who chose to breastfeed their babies. With this new fibromyalgia research, Schaefer found that each of the women, when breastfeeding, dealt with muscle pain and difficulty, leading each to feel like a failure. Early weaning also took place, which in turn, caused the women to suffer from depression and sadness.
Schaefer, with this latest fibromyalgia research released in 2004, concluded that nurses should advise expectant mothers and new mothers, who want to breastfeed, to seek encouragement from support groups and advice from lactation consultants. Further, she asserts that nurses must become advocates for women with fibromyalgia who want to breastfeed.
In 2006, Schaefer would release the findings of more fibromyalgia research, this time the effect of pregnancy on fibromyalgia. She concluded that women with fibromyalgia – particularly during the third trimester – were more fatigued, were stiffer, and had more pain than those pregnant women without fibromyalgia.
If you or someone you love is suffering from fibromyalgia, you want to consider keeping up with the latest fibromyalgia research. In addition to offering hope to those with fibromyalgia, research also provides fibromyalgia patients with new avenues of treatment.
© Health Research Today
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