What is Fibromyalgia
Autoimmune conditions affect millions of people worldwide and often create long‑term
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness, and fatigue. It is often accompanied by other symptoms such as sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties, and mood disorders and can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and daily function.
Fibromyalgia occurs in about 2% of the population. It can affect people of all ages, although it is more common in women and individuals with preexisting autoimmune or inflammatory conditions.
challenges with mobility, strength, fatigue, and overall physical function.
At Pivotal Motion Physiotherapy, our Brisbane‑based physiotherapists and exercise physiologists work closely with individuals living with autoimmune disease to provide tailored, evidence‑based care. This includes hands‑on physiotherapy, structured exercise prescription, hydrotherapy, pacing strategies, education, and long‑term management planning to help you stay mobile, strong, and confident.
Causes of Fibromyalgia
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Some potential triggers or contributing factors may include:
- Genetics – Fibromyalgia tends to run in families.
- Physical or emotional trauma – Injury, surgery, infections, or significant psychological stressors may trigger the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms in some individuals.
- Abnormal pain processing – People with fibromyalgia may have heightened sensitivity to pain due to alterations in the way their central nervous system processes pain signals.
Depending on the system affected, this can lead to:
- Chronic inflammation
- Joint and tissue damage
- Pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Fatigue and weakness
- Impaired mobility and daily function
Autoimmune diseases can affect joints, muscles, nerves, skin, glands, the digestive tract, and major organs, meaning symptoms and severity vary widely from person to person.
At Pivotal Motion Physiotherapy, we help patients understand these changes and regain control by focusing on movement, strength, energy management, and long‑term self‑management strategies.
symptoms of Fibromyalgia
The symptoms and severity of fibromyalgia can vary between individuals. Common symptoms include:
- Widespread pain that affects multiple areas of the body, including the muscles, joints, and soft tissues
- Fatigue and persistent feelings of exhaustion, even after adequate rest or sleep
- Sleep disturbances such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling unrefreshed
- Cognitive difficulties including problems with memory, concentration, and mental clarity
- Other symptoms include headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, mood disturbances such as anxiety or depression, and sensitivity to light, sound, or temperature changes.
Symptoms may fluctuate from one day to the next, and may appear or disappear unpredictably. Common triggers for symptom flares include: stress, illness, injury, changes in climate, travel, or hormone fluctuations.
How is Fibromyalgia Managed
Living with fibromyalgia can feel like navigating a complex labyrinth of symptoms and challenges. While there is no cure, with the right support and guidance individuals can learn to manage their condition effectively and improve their quality of life.
Some strategies that people with Fibromyalgia often find effective include aerobic and strength-training exercise, stretching and improving flexibility, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychology (including cognitive behaviour therapy) and making changes to diet or lifestyle. Your doctor might also recommend or prescribe medication including pain relief, NSAIDS, antidepressants, or anti-seizure medication.
Causes of Fibromyalgia
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Some potential triggers or contributing factors may include:
- Genetics – Fibromyalgia tends to run in families.
- Physical or emotional trauma – Injury, surgery, infections, or significant psychological stressors may trigger the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms in some individuals.
- Abnormal pain processing – People with fibromyalgia may have heightened sensitivity to pain due to alterations in the way their central nervous system processes pain signals.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
The symptoms and severity of fibromyalgia can vary between individuals. Common symptoms include:
- Widespread pain that affects multiple areas of the body, including the muscles, joints, and soft tissues
- Fatigue and persistent feelings of exhaustion, even after adequate rest or sleep
- Sleep disturbances such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling unrefreshed
- Cognitive difficulties including problems with memory, concentration, and mental clarity
- Other symptoms include headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, mood disturbances such as anxiety or depression, and sensitivity to light, sound, or temperature changes.
Symptoms may fluctuate from one day to the next, and may appear or disappear unpredictably. Common triggers for symptom flares include: stress, illness, injury, changes in climate, travel, or hormone fluctuations.
How is Fibromyalgia Managed
Living with fibromyalgia can feel like navigating a complex labyrinth of symptoms and challenges. While there is no cure, with the right support and guidance individuals can learn to manage their condition effectively and improve their quality of life.
Some strategies that people with Fibromyalgia often find effective include aerobic and strength-training exercise, stretching and improving flexibility, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychology (including cognitive behaviour therapy) and making changes to diet or lifestyle. Your doctor might also recommend or prescribe medication including pain relief, NSAIDS, antidepressants, or anti-seizure medication.
How Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists can help people with Fibromyalgia
Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists can offer powerful strategies to help manage the impact of fibromyalgia in your life. With a multi-disciplinary approach, like the one on offer at Pivotal Motion, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists work together with the combined expertise of two disciplines to focus on biomechanics, exercise, pain management, chronic health and rehabilitation. This allows for comprehensive and holistic management to help reduce symptoms, increase exercise adherence, provide support and education, and improve your quality of life.
At Pivotal Motion, our experienced team of Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists can help you manage the symptoms of Fibromyalgia in a number of ways:
Reducing pain and inflammation
Our Physiotherapists use manual therapy, soft tissue release, taping, and joint unloading strategies to reduce pain and support inflamed joints. These techniques allow safer, more comfortable movement.
Improving mobility and reducing stiffness
Conditions like RA and ankylosing spondylitis can cause significant stiffness in the mornings and reduced joint flexibility. Our physiotherapists and exercise physiologists prescribe range of motion exercises, mobility drills, postural correction and gentle stretching. We also offer Hydrotherapy consultations for low-impact warm‑water relief.
Supporting balance, coordination and neurological function
For individuals with MS or neurological autoimmune conditions, we provide balance training, gait retraining, core stability programs, sensory and coordination drills. These help reduce falls risk and improve confidence with daily activities.
Building strength to support joints and improve daily function
Autoimmune conditions often cause muscle weakness due to inflammation, inactivity, or steroid use. Our strength programs can improve joint stability, reduce systemic fatigue, support posture and gait, reduce flare severity, and restore confidence in movement. Strength training is safe and strongly recommended in inflammatory arthritis and MS.
Increasing energy levels and reducing fatigue
Graded exercise therapy helps recondition the body without overloading the immune system.Research shows exercise reduces MS‑related fatigue, improves endurance, and enhances brain function. We help you find the right balance between rest and activity—preventing the “boom‑and‑bust” cycle.
Long‑Term holistic support
We address every aspect of movement and wellbeing, including ergonomic and workstation advice, sleep hygiene strategies, pain-management education, flare preparation and pacing, and self-management coaching. Our clinic’s whole‑person approach ensures you feel supported across every stage of your condition.
Physiotherapy appointments
Manual therapy and myofascial release can reduce muscle tension, ease pain and improve function in muscles and joints throughout the body. Physios can also assist with targeted stretching and strengthening exercises for areas of concern.
Make a Physiotherapy appointmentExercise Physiology appointments
Low-impact aerobic exercise has been shown to help improve cardiovascular fitness, reduce pain, and increase overall energy levels. Our exercise physiologists can help you get started at a pace, volume and intensity that’s right for you and accommodates your pre-existing pain or injuries. Exercises can be compound-focused and adjusted to manage pain, fatigue and an individual’s current symptoms.
Book to see an Exercise PhysiologistStretching and Flexibility Exercises
Improving your flexibility through regular stretching can help alleviate muscle stiffness, improve your range of motion, and reduce the risk of muscle tightness and spasms that are commonly associated with fibromyalgia. Our regular weekly stretch, strength, yoga and mobility classes are led by our Exercise Physiologists and are excellent options for enhancing flexibility and promoting relaxation. Classes cost just $20 per session and private health rebates apply. See the timetable
Book a class onlineResistance training exercises
Using free weights, resistance bands, pin-loaded machines or bodyweight exercises can all help build muscle strength and endurance. This can in turn help to support and stabilise joints, improve posture, and reduce fatigue in people with fibromyalgia. Our Exercise Physiologists lead our Balance & Strength and Active Strength classes every week day, focusing on exercises that target major muscle groups while avoiding overexertion and excessive strain.
See the timetable.
Hydrotherapy sessions
The warmth and buoyancy of a hydrotherapy pool is an ideal place for people with Fibromyalgia to exercise. Our Exercise Physiologists can provide structured exercise programs to facilitate gentle resistance training, reduce joint strain and improve overall health. Hydrotherapy sessions are located here in Newmarket and available several times a week .
Book A hydrdotherapy session