What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition with chronic widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems and difficulty with movement.   Fibromyalgia is different for everyone. It affects more women than men and can start at any age and is most often diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60.

The reasons behind fibromyalgia are quite complex and involve changes in how our body processes pain signals. Stress and other psychological factors can make the pain worse. Researchers are also looking into how the nervous and immune systems might be involved.

Staying active is crucial to managing pain. Unfortunately, people with fibromyalgia often find that they're less able to be active, and moving around can sometimes make the pain worse. In a previous study, we found that using a device called TENS during activities can help reduce pain with  movement.