Breaking Down the Barriers: Using CBT for Fibromyalgia
Picture this: fighting off fatigue, dodging discomfort, and sauntering past stiffness with a formidable weapon called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It sounds too good to be true, right? Well, buckle up! A study from Karolinska Institutet reveals this possibility, showing two types of CBT – Traditional and Exposure-based, can go toe-to-toe in tackling fibromyalgia symptoms. All without any hint of a winner in their effectiveness wrestling match! Now let’s delve into this fitness and health revelation that could give your workout plans an unexpected twist.
Not All Pain Calls For Gain
Fibromyalgia might not be the most talked-about topic at your gym, but it packs a punch against around 200,000 people in Sweden alone. This chronic pain syndrome saps away energy with widespread pain, causing fatigue and stiffness. But hold on, rewind back to those two types of CBT that gave a glimmer of hope. Both were tested in an internet-delivered format aimed at reducing fibromyalgia’s symptoms and functional impact. Traditional CBT whipped out strategies such as relaxation, activity planning, physical exercise, and managing negative thoughts. Meanwhile, Exposure-based CBT systematically and repeatedly pushed patients to approach situations they’d usually avoid due to pain or discomfort.
The Battle of the CBT’s
Pitting the traditional and newer CBT forms against each other, 274 fibromyalgia patients embarked on a 10-week online treatment journey. The result? A jaw-dropping 60% of those treated with the exposure-based therapy and 59% treated with traditional CBT reported their treatment helped. That’s more than half the crowd doing a victory dance! Ever thought your internet connection could be a groundbreaking weapon against fibromyalgia? Well, there you have it.
Streamlining Therapeutic Workouts
What could this mean for your workout plans, I hear you asking? It’s simple: if two types of CBT can make such a resounding difference to fibromyalgia patients, it opens up a world of potential when applied to fitness and strength training. Imagine integrating these methods into your routine to better manage any physical discomfort or mental roadblocks you might face during your workout. Sounds like the start of a real game-changer, doesn’t it?
The Final Countdown
In the words of Europe’s renowned glam rock ballad, it’s the final countdown. Rolling it all together, the finding that internet-delivered, exposure-based, and traditional CBT equally reduce fibromyalgia’s symptoms adds a potent tool to our health and fitness kit. And the fact that their effects last up to a year after treatment is cherry on top! More accessibility to treatment? Sign me up!
Key Discoveries:
- Both traditional and exposure-based CBT significantly reduce fibromyalgia symptoms, with no profound differences in effectiveness.
- These treatments can be delivered via the internet, improving accessibility.
- Their positive effects can linger up to 12 months after the completion of the treatment.
- Integration of these CBT forms in fitness and workout plans can potentially make exercise more tolerable and enjoyable.
- 60% of exposure-based and 59% traditional CBT patients reported their treatment as helpful.
Source Citation: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231222132916.htm
