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Comparison of Lymph Drainage and Connective Tissue Massage in Fibromyalgia Patients

Comparison of Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy and Connective Tissue Massage in Females With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00635895
Acronym
FM
Enrollment
50
Registered
2008-03-14
Start date
2006-06-30
Completion date
2007-10-31
Last updated
2008-03-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Fibromyalgia

Keywords

Fibromyalgia, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Connective Tissue Massage, Pain, Health Related Quality of Life, Randomized Controlled Trial

Brief summary

The present study was designed to analyze and compare the effects of Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy and Connective Tissue Massage in females with Fibromyalgia (FM).

Detailed description

The lack of specific disease mechanisms is reflected in the fact that no cure has been found for the disease. Thus, the many interventions which are advocated in FM are targeted against the more general characteristics of pain and disability. Current pharmacological interventions have limited efficacy. There is an increasing consensus that therapy should also include non-pharmacological approaches. Manual therapy techniques are composed of a variety of procedures directed at the musculoskeletal structures in the treatment of pain. Two major subcategories exist that divide these techniques into those which produce joint motion and those which do not. The first subcategory includes manipulation, mobilization, and manual traction. The second subcategory involves both generalized soft tissue therapies, such as the many types of massage, and focal soft tissue therapy (10). Consequently, there is currently no recognized effective treatment for FM patients. In addition, there is limited number of study dealing with the effect of manual therapy techniques on FM. Although, there were some studies about Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy (MLDT) and Connective Tissue Massage (CTM) in FM. There wasn't found any study concerning the comparison of the effects of MLDT and CTM. In this study, MLDT and CTM were used for FM, which are included in the second subcategory of manual therapy techniques. Based on positive results of some studies about MLDT and CTM in FM, this study was planned to test and compare the effects of MLDT and CTM in terms of pain, health status and HRQoL in females with FM using a randomized control trial.

Interventions

OTHERManual Lymph Drainage Therapy and Connective Tissue Massage

The treatment program was carried out five times a week, during a 3-week period for both Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy and Connective Tissue Massage groups

Sponsors

Hacettepe University
CollaboratorOTHER
Abant Izzet Baysal University
CollaboratorOTHER
Pamukkale University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
25 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* female outpatients * being ≥ 25 years or older * being met the criteria for FM as defined by the American College of Rheumatology * having pain with the onset at least 3 months before baseline visit * pain in the neck or shoulder region * have never been treated for FM * being volunteer for participating

Exclusion criteria

* pain from traumatic injury or structural or regional rheumatic disease, * chronic infection, * fever or an increased tendency to bleed, * severe physical impairment, * signs of tendinitis, * cardiopulmonary disorder, * inflammatory arthritis, * autoimmune disease, * uncontrolled endocrine disorder, * allergic disorder, * pregnancy or breast-feeding, * malignancy, * unstable medical or psychiatric illness or medication usage. * They were asked not to use antidepressant, myorelaxant, and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs during three days before the first appointment and the treatment sessions and the evaluation process after the treatment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Pain intensity VAS1 minute

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)10 minutes
algometry1 munute
Nottingham Health Profile10 minutes

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026