The Impact of Fibromyalgia

Materials

• 6 Original Articles - 27 pages
• Online multiple-choice test
• Certificate upon completion

Description

Discover how you can begin assisting those clients diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Through this brief program you will:

• Understand the criteria used by physicians for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia as well as difficulties in such a diagnosis – widespread pain, severity of pain, and pain for three months or more.
• Identify possible causes of fibromyalgia – autonomic nervous system dysfunction, sleep disorders, trauma, and infection.
• Recognize the symptoms experienced by fibromyalgia patients – difficulty with daily living, depression, limited ability to care for self and family.
• Summarize ways to help fibromyalgia patients accept their pain.
• Distinguish between chronic fibromyalgia pain and flare-ups that occur for fibromyalgia patients.
• Determine appropriate massage therapy techniques for use on fibromyalgia patients.

In the course The Impact of Fibromyalgia we've combined articles written especially for the Institute's Massage Professionals Update. These articles include:

• Maintaining Compassion for Fibromyalgia Clients - Although skilled massage therapists are capable of relieving the pain of fibromyalgia, a common practitioner pitfall can get in the way.
• Fibromyalgia Relief Aided by Releasing Fear - Discover how massage therapists can help their clients with fibromyalgia break through chronic pain by addressing the practice of fear avoidance.
• Fibromyalgia Part 1: Fibromyalgia Relief with Massage - Help your clients with fibromyalgia relieve their pain. Learn about this debilitating syndrome - and how massage therapists can make a tremendous impact on their clients with fibromyalgia.
• Fibromyalgia Part 2: Nine Massage Techniques - Fibromyalgia sufferers know massage can be their most powerful ally, as long as the therapist knows how to handle this painful syndrome. Read which techniques are the most helpful, and what bodyworkers need to be aware of when handling clients with fibromyalgia.
• Fibromyalgia: Not Just the Patient Suffers - Fibromyalgia has long been a misunderstood illness that affects not only those diagnosed with it, but their families as well. Massage therapy offers a proven treatment option for the patient, their family members and caretakers.
• Emphasis on Breathing Helps Massage Clients in Pain - Learn about research suggesting that chronic pain sufferers benefit from slowed breathing.

You can either read the articles by clicking on any of the titles above or upon enrollment you'll be able to access these articles and your online test through your online course account.

Course Objectives

• Understand the criteria used by physicians for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia – widespread pain, 11 of 18 active tender points over the four quadrants of the body, pain for three months or more.
• Identify possible causes of fibromyalgia – autonomic nervous system dysfunction, sleep disorders, trauma, and infection.
• Recognize the symptoms experienced by fibromyalgia patients – difficulty with daily living, depression, limited ability to care for self and family.
• Discuss the difficulties in diagnosing fibromyalgia.
• Summarize ways to help fibromyalgia patients accept their pain.
• Distinguish between chronic fibromyalgia pain and flare-ups that occur for fibromyalgia patients.

Course Reviews

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Instructors

Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., MTCM

Nicole Cutler is a long time advocate of integrating perspectives on health. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and a Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches Institute, Nicole has been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. She has earned acupuncture licenses in the states of California and New York, is a certified specialist with the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, has earned diplomat status with the National Commission of Chinese and Oriental Medicine in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology and is a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology. In addition to her acupuncture practice that focuses on stress and pain relief, digestion, immunity and oncology, Nicole contributes to the integration of healthcare by writing articles and courses such as Infectious Disease: Hepatitis for health care providers.

Leslie DeMatteo, MS, LMT

Leslie L. DeMatteo, LMT, MS, has been an active massage therapist since 1998, after graduating from the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy in Sarasota, FL. There she completed the massage therapy program along with a certificate program in Nuad-Bo-Rarn: Traditional Massage of Thailand.

Since then, she has completed continuing education in cranial-sacral fundamentals, cancer and mastectomy massage, reflexology, trigger point therapy and prenatal massage. She is also certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and is a Professional Level member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP).

Her work in massage therapy continuing education and teaching in a massage school ignited a passion for adult training and education, which led her to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in Adult Learning: Vocational Instruction, followed by her a Master's Degree in Adult Learning.

Ms. DeMatteo is the instructor for many of the Institute's courses including such courses as Advanced Prenatal Massage, Ethics of Diversity. Cupping Therapy: A Step-by-Step Approach, Diversity: Cultural Competence, Mastering Pregnancy Massage, and many more.

Lydia Riedell, LMT

Lydia Riedell, LMT is a licensed massage therapy professional trained at the Core Institute in Tallahassee and licensed in Florida since 1992. In concert with her practice of massage therapy, Lydia became a Reiki practitioner in the Usui System of Natural Healing and applied this energy based healing art as a volunteer with Big Bend Hospice and as a first responder with the Lake Lamonia Volunteer Fire Department. After becoming a Reiki Master in the Usui System, Lydia opened a massage establishment where she specialized in massage therapy for patients with TMJ, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries. Lydia practices Acutonics Sound Healing with tuning forks and crystals and teaches Qigong fundamentals and Light Balancing techniques for health and vitality.

Ms. Riedell is the instructor on many Instutute massage CE courses, including The Impact of Fibromyalgia, Infectious Disease: Hepatitis, Massage for Headaches & Neck Pain, Massage for Lower Back & Pelvic Pain, and many more.