conferences

Every massage therapist and body worker needs to be informed about Fibromyalgia (FMS), a disorder that affects an estimated 6 million people in the United States.

Nancy has worked in the field of chronic pain for the past 30 years as a neuromuscular therapist and more recently, has incorporated psychotherapy into her chronic pain practice. During her graduate studies at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she intensively researched and compared the etiology and treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

During her presentation, the student will gain a better understanding of the chemical functions and dynamics of the brain, and how sleep patterns and stress effect the body. She also gives the therapist a thorough overview of psychological disorders that may accompany a diagnosis of FMS.

Therapists who have taken Nancy’s class have remarked how informative the class is in helping them to understand the disorder, from not only a physiological perspective, but from a psychological perspective as well, something massage therapy education rarely touches. Nancy goes in-depth regarding genetic and environmental variables that may contribute to the development and maintenance of FMS and she promotes a whole-body/mind teaching perspective that also looks at individual lifestyle, motivational levels and attitude.

Nancy completes her class with a review of the traditional versus alternative treatment methods used today and allows plenty of time for questions and answers. Students who have taken the class have remarked positively about Nancy’s energetic and thorough teaching style and concise teaching techniques. This is a “must take” course for the massage therapist who seeks a deeper understanding of chronic pain conditions like FMS and treatment or for therapists who would like to learn new information about contributing factors that may lead a chronic pain condition to develop into a long-term, disabling disorder.

FMS Facts:

Observed more often in Women than Men
1 in 50 Americans has been diagnosed with FMS
60% of cases are between the ages of 30-49
Predominantly observed in Caucasians (97%)
25% of cases reported parents with FMS