One of our clients Matt Lynch has been suffering wide-spread pain for a number of years now. Earlier this year he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and since the diagnosis has become a regular client at our clinic.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that is mainly characterised by chronic wide-spread pain, heightened sensitivity to stimuli, sleep  disturbances & fatigue. The cause is unknow, but is thought to be due to a combination of factors leading to increased sensitivity of the nervous system. Recommendations for treatment of the condition involve both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. As the exact underlying pathophysiology is unclear, a  multidisciplinary approach is extremely important in order to target a range of symptoms that can make this condition so debilitating. Chronic drug use alone will not effectively improve an individual’s physical functioning and quality of life, in addition to the fact that it can have adverse effects that result in other issues within the body.

Exercise to improve physical functioning is one of the recommendations in the management of fibromyalgia. Matt has been attending Myo-Balance Strength classes at our clinic twice a week for the past 2 months. In these classes we target strengthening of postural and joint-stabilising muscles. This can help to maintain joint integrity and to prevent overload on other muscles. A loss of joint integrity can result in incorrect loading on surrounding structures (muscle, bone, bursa, tendons, ligaments) which over time can become a source of pain – e.g. shoulder impingement.

Matt’s progress throughout the past 2 months has been great. Early on we constantly had to regress exercises and reduce the number of reps and sets in order for it to be achievable for him. The weakness throughout many of those stabilising muscles was evident and the pain that accompanied that was greatly impacting on his life. He is now completing far more challenging exercises in the classes, and with greatly improved fluidity and form. He feels as though he is slowly starting to take control of his condition and – with our support – is moving in the right direction for a better future.

Of course with the nature of the condition, some days may be harder than others – but a positive mindset, motivation and determination can help to get through this. Matt’s determination and motivation is clear with his near perfect attendance and participation in classes. As his strength continues to build and his posture continues to correct itself (with his hard work) those tougher days will become less frequent and more manageable. The key to this condition is the correct management. It is not currently possible to treat the source of fibromyalgia, as it is unknown, however learning how to get on top of it and lessen the symptoms is vital in order to improve physical functioning and thus quality of life. Matt’s future is looking brighter every day.