Chronic Pain
Pain in many places, fatigue, poor sleep, and good days and bad days. Exercise that starts gently and builds at your pace is one of the most recommended treatments for fibromyalgia.
Yes, physical therapy can help fibromyalgia. International guidelines recommend exercise as a first treatment for fibromyalgia, and understanding how pain works can make it less frightening and easier to manage. The key is starting at a level your body can handle and building slowly. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist, working alongside your doctor.
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition in which the nervous system becomes more sensitive to pain, so normal signals can feel painful. It isn't caused by damage to your joints or muscles, and the pain is real. It often comes with fatigue, sleep problems and changes in concentration.
Exercise can seem impossible when everything hurts, and doing too much at once often causes a flare. The approach that works is starting small and building gradually, with walking, gentle strengthening, stretching or water-based exercise. Over time this can reduce pain and fatigue and improve sleep and function. Learning how pain works, pacing your activity and planning for flares are just as important.
Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We listen to your story, how pain affects your days and sleep, and what you want to be able to do again.
A program that starts where you are, not where you "should" be, and builds slowly, with hands-on care where it helps.
Pacing, flare plans, sleep and movement habits, and a home program you can keep up for the long term.
See a doctor promptly if you have:
Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.
Ready to feel better?
Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.
Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026