Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by generalized pain, joint rigidity, intense fatigue, sleep alterations, headache, spastic colon, craniomandibular dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether massage-myofascial release therapy can improve pain, anxiety, quality of sleep, depression, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed. Seventy-four fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned to experimental (massage-myofascial release therapy) and placebo (sham treatment with disconnected magnotherapy device) groups. The intervention period was 20 weeks. Pain, anxiety, quality of sleep, depression, and quality of life were determined at baseline, after the last treatment session, and at 1 month and 6 months. Immediately after treatment and at 1 month, anxiety levels, quality of sleep, pain, and quality of life were improved in the experimental group over the placebo group. However, at 6 months postintervention, there were only significant differences in the quality of sleep index. Myofascial release techniques improved pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by generalized pain, joint rigidity, and intense fatigue
Fibromyalgia has a negative effect on the quality of life of patients, who often feel incapable of performing such basic daily life activities as walking, going up stairs, or lifting objects, increasing their disability index and utilization of health services [1, 2]
These alterations contribute to neuronal hyperreactivity and myofascial distress, indicating that the origin of the pain may be related to myofascial trigger points or musculoskeletal changes
Summary
Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by generalized pain, joint rigidity, and intense fatigue. The most widely accepted hypothesis is that chronic pain in FMS is of muscle origin, plasma muscle enzyme levels, electromyographic studies, and muscle biopsies have proven completely normal [4,5,6]. Results have shown characteristics associated with pain perception changes, sleep alterations, decrease in brain serotonin levels, and abnormalities in microcirculation and muscle energy metabolism [7]. Taken together, these alterations contribute to neuronal hyperreactivity and myofascial distress, indicating that the origin of the pain may be related to myofascial trigger points or musculoskeletal changes
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