How Hydrotherapy can help Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that often conventional medicine can do very little to help. For that reason many sufferers will look to alternative therapies in order to get help and one that could be of benefit is hydrotherapy. In this article we are going to consider what fibromyalgia is, what hydrotherapy is and how it can help with fibromyalgia.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose as there is no known cause and there are no specific tests for it. However sufferers will often find they experience fatigue combined with pain in the muscles, joints and tendons. The condition will be different for every person and is not thought to be degenerative and so can be managed. As well as the symptoms already mentioned people may also suffer from IBS, headaches, depression, anxiety, dizziness as well as others. If you are at all concerned you should visit your doctor as it is important to rule out other conditions that you may be suffering from and get a proper diagnosis before beginning treatment for fibromyalgia.

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is actually a general term to describe any therapy that uses water in any form including steam and ice. It can vary significantly in form but can include things like baths, hot tubs, steam rooms, colonic irrigation as well as moist compresses. For that reason it is important to find the right form of hydrotherapy for your particular condition. For example some conditions may benefit from a shower as stimulation is required whereas others may do better in a bath as this can bring about soothing and relaxation.

Hydrotherapy and Fibromyalgia

Hydrotherapy has been shown to be a very effective treatment for fibromyalgia in a number of studies that have been carried out across the world. Some of the benefits that have been found include reduced muscle pain, help with sleep disorders, increased mobility and reduced stiffness.

One form of hydrotherapy that has been shown to be useful are therapeutic whirlpool baths. In fact in one study patients underwent this treatment twice a week for six weeks and it was found that the patients had a significant benefits. They reported having better muscle and joint function as well as reduced pain and improved quality of sleep.

You can often find that you can get hydrotherapy at many spas across the world and many swimming pools may be able to offer some form or therapy. However if you find the costs prohibitive many people may also get benefits from regular baths at home. However it is also thought that regular exercise therapy in warm water could be beneficial and so you could try visiting your local swimming pool and attending water exercise classes.

Conclusion

There are a lot of opportunities for people to try various forms of hydrotherapy. It is important to make your decision carefully and select something that works for you. There are a various things that you need to take into account including locality, cost and benefits. However if you are finding nothing is helping your condition then hydrotherapy could be an option that is well worth considering.