Effects of active/passive interventions on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia: Randomized controlled pilot trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of connective tissue massage (CTM) and pilates exercises on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia.
Results Summary
CTM showed significant improvements in pain intensity, pain-pressure threshold, anxiety, and health-related quality of life, though the pilates group had greater improvements in pain-pressure threshold and anxiety reduction. Both interventions were beneficial, but exercise may offer additional advantages.
Population
Women with fibromyalgia (n=22 in CTM group, 21 in pilates group).
Effective Dosage
Three times per week for 4 weeks.
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pilates exercises | decrease | pain intensity; pain-pressure threshold; and tolerance, anxiety, progress, and health-related quality of life | females with fibromyalgia | - | significant improvements were found | #1 |
connective tissue massage (CTM) | decrease | pain intensity; pain-pressure threshold; and tolerance, anxiety, progress, and health-related quality of life | females with fibromyalgia | - | significant improvements were found | #2 |
pilates exercises | increase | pain-pressure threshold | females with fibromyalgia | - | scores for pain-pressure threshold were significantly elevated | #3 |
pilates exercises | decrease | anxiety | females with fibromyalgia | - | symptoms of anxiety were significantly diminished | #4 |
exercise | decrease | symptoms | women with fibromyalgia | - | might be used to provide improvements | #5 |
massage | decrease | symptoms | women with fibromyalgia | - | might be used to provide improvements | #6 |
The authors of this study compared the effects of pilates exercises and connective tissue massage (CTM) on pain intensity; pain-pressure threshold; and tolerance, anxiety, progress, and health-related quality of life in females with fibromyalgia. It was a pilot, assessor masked, randomized controlled trial conducted between January and August of 2013. Twenty-one women with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to the pilates exercise program (six of whom did not complete the program), and 22 were randomly assigned to CTM (one of whom did not complete this program). Each group received the assigned intervention three times per week during a 4-week period. The Visual Analogue Scale, algometry, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and Nottingham Health Profile were used at baseline and at the end of treatments. Significant improvements were found in both groups for all parameters. However, the scores for pain-pressure threshold were significantly elevated and the symptoms of anxiety were significantly diminished in the exercise group compared to the massage group. Thus, exercise and massage might be used to provide improvements in women with fibromyalgia. The exercise group showed more advantages than the massage group and thus might be preferred for patients with fibromyalgia. However, an adequately powered trial is required to determine this with certainty.