A modicum of solace is available for women suffering from the chronic disorder fibromyalgia, according to a column penned by a doctor whose work includes the responsibilities of a physical therapy job.
The widespread pain, tenderness and additional symptoms including disorders with sleep and irritable bowel syndrome overwhelmingly affect women, Dr. Dale Buchberger wrote in AuburnPub.com. Between 80 and 90 percent of those suffering from fibromyalgia are female and as many as 5 million Americans age 18 or more suffer from it.
No cure is available for the disorder so the key strategy is managing it. The first line of intervention is physical aerobic exercise as it enhances one's functional capacities and their sense of well-being. The second step is participating in programs of behavioral therapy that drive toward encouraging methods of relaxation and one's emotional self-awareness. People who hold physical therapy jobs might be able to be of assistance in this regard.
Pain management strategies also are important as are dietary changes for the sake of bettering one's circumstances and abilities to cope with the disorder.
Physical therapists can be helpful to people suffering from injuries or illnesses as they help manage the pain, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.