Quick answer
Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain, fatigue and unrefreshing sleep, driven by a sensitized nervous system rather than tissue damage. Graded exercise, pacing and education are the best-evidenced treatments and meaningfully improve daily function. Physiotherapy is a proven, first-line treatment for fibromyalgia.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia affects roughly 2–4% of the population, mostly women. It is diagnosed from widespread pain plus fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive symptoms (“fibro fog”) — and although it involves no tissue damage, its impact on life is very real.
For pain focused in one region that has persisted, see our chronic pain page.
Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Symptoms vary from person to person, but fibromyalgia most often shows up as:
- Widespread pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist
- Deep fatigue that rest does not fix
- Unrefreshing, non-restorative sleep
- Fibro fog: trouble concentrating or finding words
- Heightened sensitivity to pressure, noise or light
- Headaches, IBS-type symptoms and low mood often alongside
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Common causes and risk factors include:
- A sensitized nervous system amplifying normal signals
- Often following physical trauma, infection or major stress
- Genetic predisposition in many families
- Disrupted deep sleep perpetuating symptoms
- Deconditioning from activity avoidance
- Co-existing autoimmune or pain conditions
How Physiotherapy Treats Fibromyalgia
Your plan is tailored to your assessment findings, but most treatment plans combine:
- Graded aerobic and strength exercise — the strongest evidence base of any treatment
- Pacing strategies to end the boom-and-bust cycle
- Pain-neuroscience education
- Gentle manual therapy and warm-water-based movement where helpful
- Sleep and stress management strategies
- Coordination with your physician for medication and diagnosis support
At Dynamic Balance Physiotherapy & Vestibular Rehab Clinic in Clayton, Cloverdale, Surrey & Langley, BC, every plan is one-on-one, evidence-based and built around your goals — no two treatment plans are alike.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first appointment is a 45-minute one-on-one assessment. Your physiotherapist reviews your health history, tests the movement, strength and joints involved in your fibromyalgia, explains what is actually driving your symptoms, and usually starts treatment the same day. You leave with a clear diagnosis, a personalized plan and realistic milestones — no doctor’s referral needed.
Fibromyalgia FAQs
Do I need a referral to physiotherapy for Fibromyalgia?
No. In BC, physiotherapists are primary-care practitioners, so you can book directly with us. If your symptoms ever need a physician’s eyes, we will tell you and point you in the right direction.
Will exercise make my fibromyalgia worse?
Not when it is dosed correctly — the trick is starting below your flare threshold and progressing slowly. Done this way, exercise is the single best-evidenced treatment for fibromyalgia: it reduces pain, improves sleep and lifts function. The boom-and-bust pattern, not exercise itself, is what worsens symptoms.
How many sessions will my Fibromyalgia need?
Most patients notice meaningful improvement within 4–8 visits, though recovery varies with severity and how long symptoms have been present. Your physiotherapist gives you a personalized estimate after the first assessment.
Get Fibromyalgia Relief in Surrey & Langley
If fibromyalgia is limiting your day, the team at Dynamic Balance Physiotherapy & Vestibular Rehab Clinic is ready to help. Book online or call — same-week appointments are usually available, and we direct bill ICBC, WorkSafeBC and most extended-health plans.