Absolutely Spahhhvelous » muscle soreness http://thebodymechaniclmt.com ....You'll leave here feeling MAHHHVELOUS!!!!! Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:55:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Massage Therapy Eases Chronic Fatigue Syndrome http://thebodymechaniclmt.com/massage-therapy-eases-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/ http://thebodymechaniclmt.com/massage-therapy-eases-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:52:24 +0000 admin http://thebodymechaniclmt.com/?p=404 Sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome know how hard it can be to find relief.  CFS is characterized by fatigue that doesn’t go away even after long periods of rest. It is made worse by physical and even mental activity. Studies show that women are four times as likely as men to be diagnosed with CFS, although this is possibly attributed to the fact that men are less likely to seek treatment for chronic fatigue.

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes CFS. It is often preceded by a viral illness, and in some cases is caused by a dysfunction of the immune system. But CFS sufferers know the symptoms all too well:

  • Painful and swollen lymph nodes
  • Sore throat
  • Headaches
  • Memory loss
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Sore muscles
  • Difficulty sleeping

There is no set treatment for chronic fatigue, and doctors usually do their best to simply manage the symptoms and wait for the condition to resolve itself.

Regular massage can help ease the symptoms of CFS. It can help with joint and muscle soreness, as well as the depression associated with the condition. Massage also promotes circulation, an important aspect of treatment for people with CFS who aren’t engaging in physical activities as much as they normally would.

The Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome defines the benefits of massage therapy for CFS by describing the immediate physiological changes in the body following massage:

Immediately following massage therapy depressed mood, anxiety and stress hormone (cortisol) levels were reduced. Following 10 days of massage therapy, fatigue related symptoms, particularly anxiety and somatic symptoms, were reduced, as were depression, difficulty sleeping and pain. Stress hormone (cortisol) also decreased and dopamine increased. (Field, T, Sunshine, W., Hernandez-Reif, M., Quintino, O., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., & Burman, I. (1997). Chronic fatigue syndrome: Massage therapy effects on depression and somatic symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 3, 43-51).

If you are suffering from the symptoms of CFS, it is important to see your physician to rule out any underlying diseases that could be causing the problem. Once those are ruled out, contact your massage therapist to discuss the many benefits of massage therapy for this debilitating condition. Your massage therapist can be instrumental in discovering and maintaining a treatment plan that will relieve your symptoms and get you back on your feet and enjoying life again.

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