Efficacy of Electromyographic Biofeedback, Aerobic Exercise and Stretching in Fibromyalgia.

Summary

Some authors claim that patients with musculoskeletal pain tend to underestimate their levels of muscle tension. The results of studies find evidences of the deficits in the perception of muscular tension in patients with chronic pain, being this the pathogenic factor in some musculoskeletal alterations. These studies show that patients with chronic pain can not identify their muscle tension and suggest that this contributes to maintaining pain. Thus, positive results have been found with relaxation and electromyographic biofeedback in patients with chronic pain. If these symptoms are due to excessive stress, patients should be able to benefit from regulation of muscle activity through BFB-EMG, thus learning to regulate the physiological variable. The study will be carried out in the electrotherapy laboratory of the Health Sciences Building of the University of Almeria. Initially, the sample will be chosen and the informed consent of the subjects will be obtained. Before the start of treatment, a baseline assessment of the dependent variables will be performed. Subsequently subjects will undergo three sessions of manipulative therapy over 12 weeks (one session per week). After the therapeutic intervention, a new determination of the dependent variables will be performed.

Conditions

• Fibromyalgia

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Electromyography-Biofeedback (EMG-BFB) training

The Chattanooga Intelect Advanced model was used with the surface EMG for 2 independent channels. The patient can observe on the screen as columns of varying their height in the function of the degree of muscular tension. Each session was configured as follows. First, a 2 minute period for adaptation and then we continue with a 2 minute period to establish the baseline. After that, a 7 minute training trial session to reduce the muscle tension as well as a pause of about 2 minutes. Then, it continued with two more trials of 7 minutes interleaved with another 2 minute break. Thus, the whole training lasts 29 minutes approximately. The pauses between the individual trials were intended to recover the baseline level to carry out a new trial which will start from a higher level of EMG.

BEHAVIORAL

Aquatic exercise

Aquatic Exercise program (Biodanza exercises) was carried out in a swimming-pool with a water temperature of approximately 29 ° C, preceded by a shower at a temperature of about 33-35 °C. Each session lasts an hour and they will held twice a week (Monday and Wednesday) during a period of time of three months (12 weeks).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad de Almeria

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Maria M Lopez-Rodriguez, PhD · Universidad de Almeria

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

72 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-05-11

Primary Completion

2013-04-17

Completion

2016-09-10