Fibromyalgia
Post Rehab Goals and Objectives:
- Increase cardiovascular capacity
- Increase functional strength and capacity
- Increase clients overall flexibility
- Improve joint stability
Description
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by diffuse pain and prescience of abnormal tenderness in multiple specific anatomic locations of tender points. FM is the second most common rheumatoid condition seen by rheumatologists. The typical client is female with onset of symptoms between ages 25-55 with duration of symptoms at the time diagnosis of at least five years. Fm is not a deforming disease, but many patients consider the pain of FM to be disabling. Symptoms tend to be unrelenting, with most clients reporting little change in a 3 year follow-up study.
A simple and effective criteria for FM has been established by the American College of Rheumatology. The criteria is as follows: a history of whole body pain (in all four quadrants) of greater than 3 months duration of unexplained diagnosis, plus 11 or more out of the possible 18 tender points. Other characteristics include persistent aching non-restorative sleep, fatigue, morning stiffness, subject swelling and variable Parathesia mainly consisting of numbness and tingling in the extremities in many instances, these symptoms may be worsened by weather change, anxiety, stress and physical activity. Recent studies have shown the prevalence of hypermobility in the client with FM and changes in the type 2 muscle fibers in the body.
The most important aspect of treatment begins with the correct diagnosis of the condition. Supervised exercise is the overwhelming choice of clinicians for treatment of FM. Stretching and low intensity cardio vascular exercise is among the top two favourite choices. FM clients have decreased muscle strength, significantly lower cardiovascular and oxygen consumption capacity and show evidence of damage and changes in the type 1 and type 2 muscle fibers. Primarily the damage is found in type two fibers. Changes include:
- Atrophy
- Decrease in the Number of Mitochondria
- Increased Contraction Time