Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Fibromyalgia

August 13, 2024 updated by: Songül Bağlan Yentür, Firat University

Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Fibromyalgia Patients

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is associated with chronic widespread pain and at least eleven positive tender points out of 18 according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 criteria. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) stimulates nerve fibers providing innervation in healthy muscle and muscle fibers in denervated muscle to produce contraction. All patients will be taught neck normal joint motion exercises, upper trapezius stretching exercise and posture exercises. Patients included in the study will be randomly distributed equally between the two groups. In addition to the study group, NMES will be applied to the upper trapezius muscle for 30 minutes 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Pain, disability and sleep quality of all patients will be evaluated.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is associated with chronic widespread pain and at least eleven positive tender points out of 18 according to the 1990 criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (1). Pain and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia interfere with daily functions, work and social activities, leading to a decrease in quality of life. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) stimulates nerve fibers that provide innervation in healthy muscle and muscle fibers in denervated muscle to produce contraction. Studies on TENS current in patients with FM have shown that pain decreases and functional status improves. However, although muscle weakness has been described in patients with FM, there are no studies on the effects of NMES application. All patients will be taught neck normal joint motion exercises, upper trapezius stretching exercise and posture exercises. Patients included in the study will be randomly distributed equally between the two groups. In addition to the study group, NMES will be applied to the upper trapezius muscle for 30 minutes 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Pain, disability and sleep quality of all patients will be evaluated.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who were aged between 18-65 years,
  • Patients who got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who had regular exercise habits, malignancy, pregnancy, incorporation
  • Patients who had changes of medical treatment in last 3 months
  • Patients who had dysfunction that can prevent physical activity

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Group
All patients will be taught neck normal joint movement exercises, upper trapezius stretching exercise and posture exercises. In addition to the study group, NMES will be applied to the upper trapezius muscle for 30 minutes 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) applications will be performed with a Compex 3 (Compex Medical SA, Ecublens, Switzerland) model, portable and programmable electrostimulator unit in rehabilitation mode and under the supervision of an expert physiotherapist experienced in the device and application. The NMES program will be applied with a 4-channel device with a functional stimulation capacity of 120 mA, pulse duration 400 μs and pulse frequency 150 Hz.
All patients will be taught neck normal joint movement exercises, upper trapezius stretching exercise and posture exercises. In addition to the study group, NMES will be applied to the upper trapezius muscle for 30 minutes 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) applications will be performed with a Compex 3 (Compex Medical SA, Ecublens, Switzerland) model, portable and programmable electrostimulator unit in rehabilitation mode and under the supervision of an expert physiotherapist experienced in the device and application. The NMES program will be applied with a 4-channel device with a functional stimulation capacity of 120 mA, pulse duration 400 μs and pulse frequency 150 Hz.
Experimental: Control group
Patients will be taught neck normal joint movement exercises, upper trapezius stretching exercise and posture exercises.
Patients will be taught neck normal joint movement exercises, upper trapezius stretching exercise and posture exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain assessment
Time Frame: 1 minute
Pain intensity will be evaluated according to VAS. Patients will be asked to mark the pain intensity on a 10 cm line. 0 means no pain and 10 means unbearable pain.
1 minute

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Disability assessment
Time Frame: 2 minutes
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire will be used. The FIQ consists of 10 items. The first item includes daily activity questions scored on a Likert scale from 0 to 3 (always able to do - never able to do).
2 minutes
Sleep quality assessment
Time Frame: 2 minutes
Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index will be used to evaluate sleep quality
2 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

August 20, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 20, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 13, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 13, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

August 15, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 15, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 13, 2024

Last Verified

August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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