Fibromyalgia and many forms of long‑lasting pain are often linked to a sensitised nervous system, where the “volume knob” on pain is turned up, so normal signals are interpreted as threatening or painful. In this context, the goal of treatment is not to “cure” tissues that are badly damaged, but to calm and retrain the system so it feels safer and less reactive over time.
Nervous system hypersensitivity
- In central sensitisation, the brain and spinal cord become more responsive to input, so light touch, mild pressure or everyday movement can trigger disproportionate pain.
- Stress, poor sleep, past injuries and ongoing worry about symptoms can all feed this sensitivity loop, keeping muscles tense and pain pathways “on high alert”.
Why gentle movement helps
- Very gentle, regular movement gives the nervous system non‑threatening information, showing that the body can move without danger, which can gradually turn the sensitivity down.
- Small, tolerable amounts of movement also help circulation, joint lubrication and mood, without provoking the big flare‑ups that often follow over‑ambitious exercise.
Role of hands on therapy
- Soft, comfortable manual techniques (not aggressive or painful work) can reduce muscle guarding, improve ease of movement and provide calming input to the nervous system.
- The therapeutic setting—time to talk, feel listened to, and receive gentle touch—can itself lower stress levels, which is an important part of pain modulation.
Building tolerance slowly
- A pacing approach is key: starting below your current limit, then increasing time, distance or load in very small steps so the body has a chance to adapt.
- Tracking patterns (sleep, stress, activity, flares) and adjusting the plan prevents the boom‑and‑bust cycle of doing too much on good days and “crashing” afterwards.
Putting it together
- Combining gentle movement, supportive manual therapy, stress‑management strategies and realistic goal‑setting helps create more safety signals than danger signals for the nervous system.
- Over weeks and months, this gradual, kind approach can improve confidence, function and quality of life, even when pain sensitivity has been present for a long time.
