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Myofascial Release of Physiological Chains and Muscle Stretching in Patients With Fibromyalgia

Myofascial Release of the Trunk Physiological Chains and Muscle Stretching on Pain, Quality of Life and Functional Capacity of Patients With Fibromyalgia: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03408496
Enrollment
38
Registered
2018-01-24
Start date
2018-01-23
Completion date
2019-03-19
Last updated
2019-03-21

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

Conditions

Fibromyalgia

Keywords

Myofascial release, Pain, Manual therapy, Muscle stretching, Quality of life

Brief summary

Muscle stretching is a therapeutic technique commonly used by physiotherapists, but for the treatment of fibromyalgia it still has weak evidence to support its real effect. On the other hand, myofascial mobilization in the location of tender points, as it is the solution for the population, demonstrating effects on the improvement of the symptoms, but not yet achieving the minimal clinically important change. In this context, myofascial release guided by physiological chains, so far not studied, is presented as an alternative to improve pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia because it acts in a global way and, probably, more effective. This study evaluates the effect of myofascial release of the trunk physiological chains and muscle stretching on pain, quality of life and functional capacity of patients with fibromyalgia when compared to the control group.

Interventions

OTHERMyofascial release

Manual therapy

Muscle stretching

OTHERControl

Medical appointment

Sponsors

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Participants will be allocated in 3 groups. The myofascial release group, muscle stretching group and control group.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 59 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Confirmation of the diagnosis by rheumatologists according to the diagnostic criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology of 1990 and 2010. * Moderate to severe pain according to the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (≥ 4). * Prescribed treatment (drug and/or psychological) stable in the last month before the selection for those who perform. * Patients who live in the metropolitan area of Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil.

Exclusion criteria

* Nonpharmacologic therapies, except for psychological treatment if prescribed by the doctor at the same time of the study. * Skin diseases. * Patients classified as very active by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. * Women who use intrauterine devices (IUD). * Pregnant women. * Patients with other associated rheumatic disease or with modified posture due to congenital anatomic alteration. * Severe decompensated comorbidities (cancer, thyroid disease and diabetes). * Infection, fever, hypotension, respiratory alterations limiting treatment. * Cardiovascular event in the previous year. * Presence of cardiac, renal or hepatic insufficiency. * Arterial or peripheral venous insufficiency. * Presence of a hypertrophic scar on the trunk. * Obesity grade 3. * Illiteracy. * Severe psychiatric illness.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain intensity level changeBaseline, after 4 weeks since the beginning of the treatment, after 8 weeks since the beginning of the treatment, follow-up (after 12 weeks since the beginning of the treatment)Self reported pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale, wich ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 means absence of pain and 10 means the worst pain already felt
Quality of life score changeBaseline, after 4 weeks since the beginning of the treatment, after 8 weeks since the beginning of the treatment, follow-up (after 12 weeks since the beginning of the treatment)Evaluated by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, wich evaluates aspects of functional capacity, work status, psychological disturbances and physical symptoms. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, where higher scores have a worst impact of fibromyalgia on quality of life and functional capacity.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Amount of analgesic ingestedUp to 12 weeksMeasured by the analgesic diary, wich is filled weekly

Countries

Brazil

Outcome results

None listed

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