Brad Shapero, D.C.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and tenderness in the musculoskeletal system. There are many treatment approaches available for joint and soft tissue pain management but few studies have looked at the long-term benefits of such treatments.One study looked at both the short-term and the long-term effects of using connective tissue [..]

Until recently, fibromyalgia (FM) was felt to be a condition that could only be diagnosed after eliminating other conditions that are more "testable." While recent studies indicate the possibility that someday MRI and/or blood tests may be used as part of the diagnosis process, it doesn’t change the difficulty doctors and patients face when it comes to [..]

The link between fibromyalgia (FM) and sleep is well-established. Some experts feel FM is caused by a lack of deep sleep, which usually takes about four hours of continuous sleep to achieve. Over time, the inability to fully relax due to the lack of deep sleep results in a gradual tightening of the muscles, which [..]

Fibromyalgia (FM) affects at least 6 million Americans (1) and is the third most prevalent rheumatologic disorder (after osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) representing 5% of family practice office visits and 20% of rheumatology visits. Approximately 90% of FM patients are women between the ages of 40 and 60 years, with an average age of 49. [..]

It seems a month doesn't go by when yet another scientific study is published proving the benefits of exercise for fibromyalgia patients. For example, a 2008 study by Finnish researchers looked at 26 women who were postmenopausal with fibromyalgia symptoms such as widespread pain and fatigue. In the study, the participants either completed a supervised [..]

Fibromyalgia is a complex disease that requires a comprehensive approach. Often, the spine is neglected and chiropractic care is, therefore, underutilized. This seems surprising since so many patients have spinal pain and chiropractic care is one of the most proven treatments for this condition. Chiropractic care for the fibromyalgia patient may also incorporate a structured [..]

How can a spinal problem possibly contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms such as chronic musculoskeletal  pain? In many disorders involving musculoskeletal pain, the nervous system is involved in some degree and the nervous system itself can get affected by structural changes in the spinal column. When viewing the neck from the side, there should be a [..]

Chiropractors recognize the importance of good spinal posture in affecting a variety of health problems, including fibromyalgia. It's important to not think of the disease as having a single solution, but rather as a more complex entity, needing a comprehensive approach. But is there any research on the spine being involved in patients with fibromyalgia?A [..]

Many patients with fibromyalgia have long-standing depression, which is more substantial than just having the occasional morning blues. Their muscle pain can either be a cause for their depression or even the effect of a prolonged, depressed state of mind. Or the two may not be linked at all and simply co-exist at the same [..]

Worldwide, fibromyalgia affects up to 5% of the population and about 15 million people in the United States alone. Fibromyalgia is not a disease in the sense that it has a known viral or bacterial cause. Rather, it is a collection of symptoms, mostly pain, that affect the neuromusculoskeletal system. Since other types of diseases [..]