Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function. Fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome and abbreviated FMS. Fibromyalgia was formerly known as fibrositis.
A team of researchers from University of Granadam conducted an experimental study with patients suffering from fibromyalgia from the provinces of Spain. The results show that music therapy combined with other relaxation techniques based on guided imagery significantly reduces pain, depression and anxiety, and improves sleep among patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Therefore, this therapy promotes the well-being and personal power of patients with fibromyalgia.
Participants were given a CD to listen at home. This relaxation technique was based on guided imagery and music therapy to patients, in a series of sessions conducted by a researcher. Then the main symptoms of fribromyalgia such as pain intensity, quality of life, impact of the condition on patient’s daily life, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, self-efficiency, well-being were measured by the researchers. Next, patients did their own treatment at home.
During the study, the researchers conducted three tests on patients, one at the beginning of the treatment, one four weeks after the intervention, and another post-basal test eight weeks after the intervention, at the end of the study.
The results were rather good. This therapy can relieve the patients’ pains from fribromyalgia and enhance their quality of life. Furthermore, it costs cheap and patients can easily get involved in their treatment at home. Thus, the art of relaxation with guided imagery and receptive music therapy could be considered effective in the alternative symptomatic treatment of this condition.