According to M.D.s, Janet Travell and David Simons, authors of Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, Fibromyalgia is identified by widespread pain for at least 3 months duration in combination with tenderness at 11 or more of the 18 specific tender points, also known as trigger points.

Symptoms include:
	Chronic pain in muscles and soft tissue & surrounding joints Aches in neck, trunk, and hips Morning stiffness Disrupted non-restful sleep Fatigue and lethargy Anxiety and depression Weakness Headaches Diarrhea and irritable bowel Confusion Stomach and digestive problems Shortness of breath

Massage/Bodywork Treatment as indicated by research provides relief by changing the levels of hormones, reducing cortisol and increasing serotonin, which affects stress and pain sensitivity, and also assists in removing waste from muscles, increases blood and nutrient flow, improves cell oxygenation, and adjusts our nervous system to its relaxation mode. Fibromyalgia clients experience improved sleep, reduction of pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

Structural Energetic Therapy (SET) is a deep tissue body restructuring that rehabilitates chronic pain and dysfunctions in the body.

SET moves and releases the massive buildup of toxicity within the tissues and muscles, which makes it possible for freer and easier movement and a reduction of fatigue and exhaustion. This rebalancing also relieves an overstressed musculature to support and maintain an upright posture.

SET techniques release old structural patterns in order to rehabilitate and support a new balanced postural alignment. The treatment is based on the needs of the client, beginning with releasing the structural imbalance responsible for the primary area of discomfort.

Surface myofascial layers and deeper layers of the entire structure are released in the first treatment. The SET therapist incorporates Cranial/Structural techniques to initiate the unwinding of the soft tissue holding patterns within the body, and then continues with the soft tissue work moving from superficial to deep as the tissues release and unwind. This provides pain relief and an initial balancing in the first session.

The Cranial/Structural techniques are utilized to normalize cranial distortion patterns and their adverse effects on the body. Without the release of the cranial distortion pattern, myofascial therapy would be conflicting with the cranial distortion influences in the body.

Clients generally report immediate improvement of acid reflux or hiatal hernia symptoms after just one session. This improvement may be reported as less pain and discomfort, less intense or fewer occurrences, or a general calming of the area. I usually work one session per week until the client is symptom free for a week, then schedule for 10 days until symptom free, two weeks until symptom free, and space out accordingly after that.

- Don McCann, MA, LMT, LMHC – founder Structural Energetic Therapy, Inc.