Effects of Manual Therapy on Fatigue, Pain, and Psychological Aspects in Women with Fibromyalgia

Yolanda Nadal-Nicolás, Jacobo Ángel Rubio-Arias, María Martínez-Olcina, Cristina Reche-García, María Hernández-García and Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez
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Yolanda Nadal-Nicolás: Faculty of Medicine, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Jacobo Ángel Rubio-Arias: Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
María Martínez-Olcina: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Cristina Reche-García: Faculty of Nursing, Catholic University of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
María Hernández-García: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez: Faculty of Sciences, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Fibromyalgia is a condition characterised by chronic widespread muscle pain and fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive disorders, and mood disturbance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a manual therapy technique performed with moderate digital pressure in women with fibromyalgia ( n = 24). In this randomised, controlled trial, the participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group or placebo group. The experimental group was assisted with manual therapy sessions based on connective tissue massage, whereas the placebo group was “treated” with ultrasound sessions performed without conductive gel and with the machine turned off as the placebo. Fatigue severity scale (FSS), visual analogical scale (VAS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and profile of mood states (POMS-29) were completed before and after the intervention. In the experimental group (manual therapy), significant results were obtained on a VAS scale, referring to the neck pain in patients with fibromyalgia ( p < 0.001). Correlations showed a relationship between fatigue and sleep variables ( R = 0.411; p = 0.046) and pain variables with the POMS anger-hostility subscale ( R = 0.436; p = 0.033). Although the size of the sample could be a limitation, the study concluded that the application of manual therapy in fibromyalgia patients performed with moderate pressure for 15 min on the posterior cervical musculature decreased the perception of pain, muscle fatigue, and the state of tension-anxiety.

Keywords: chronic disease; muscle fatigue; chronic pain; sleep disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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