Questa pagina è stata tradotta automaticamente e l'accuratezza della traduzione non è garantita. Si prega di fare riferimento al Versione inglese per un testo di partenza.

Unilateral and Bilateral taVNS in Fibromyalgia (taVNS-FMS)

5 maggio 2026 aggiornato da: BUSENUR KARAGÖZ, Istanbul Gelisim University

Comparison of Unilateral and Bilateral Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Autonomic Function and Exercise Performance in Fibromyalgia

This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effects of unilateral (left-sided) and bilateral transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) combined with a home exercise program on clinical outcomes, autonomic nervous system function, and exercise performance in individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Participants diagnosed with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to one of three groups: unilateral taVNS, bilateral taVNS, or a home exercise program. The intervention period lasted two weeks and included ten treatment sessions. Clinical outcomes were assessed using validated scales including the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Autonomic function was evaluated using heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, and exercise performance was assessed based on repetition capacity.

The study aimed to determine whether bilateral stimulation provides additional benefits compared to unilateral stimulation and exercise alone. The findings may contribute to understanding the role of neuromodulation strategies in improving autonomic regulation, symptom severity, and functional performance in individuals with fibromyalgia.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Completato

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Descrizione dettagliata

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and psychological symptoms, often associated with autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) and increased sympathetic activity are commonly observed in individuals with FMS, contributing to impaired exercise tolerance and reduced quality of life.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve and has been shown to influence autonomic regulation and central pain processing. However, evidence regarding its effects on exercise performance and the comparative efficacy of unilateral versus bilateral stimulation remains limited.

This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial including individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Participants were allocated into three groups: unilateral taVNS, bilateral taVNS, and a home exercise program. The interventions were applied over a two-week period consisting of ten sessions. The taVNS intervention was administered via auricular stimulation targeting vagal afferents, while the exercise group followed a structured home-based program.

Outcome measures included clinical symptom scales (FIQ, BAI, BDI, PSQI), autonomic nervous system parameters derived from HRV analysis (including RMSSD, pNN50, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio), and exercise performance assessed through repetition capacity. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period.

The primary objective was to compare the effects of unilateral and bilateral taVNS on autonomic function and exercise performance, and to evaluate whether combining neuromodulation with exercise provides additional clinical benefits in individuals with fibromyalgia. The results of this study may help inform rehabilitation strategies integrating neuromodulation and exercise-based interventions.

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Effettivo)

90

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Luoghi di studio

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

  • Adulto

Accetta volontari sani

No

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Were between 18 and 45 years of age

  • Were diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria

    -- Stable clinical condition

  • Ability to understand and follow study procedures
  • Willingness to participate and provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A history of malignancy
  • Cardiopulmonary diseases contraindicating exercise
  • Limb loss
  • Ear infections and implants, implanted electronic devices
  • Systemic diseases (hematological, endocrine, rheumatological, renal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, or autoimmune diseases)
  • Active infection
  • Surgery or major trauma within the previous 6 months
  • Postmenopausal status
  • Pregnancy or lactation

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Nessuno (etichetta aperta)

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Unilateral taVNS
Participants received unilateral (left-sided) transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for ten sessions over a two-week period.
Dispositivo: taVNS
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation applied via the auricular branch of the vagus nerve for neuromodulation purposes.
Sperimentale: Bilateral taVNS
Participants received bilateral transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for ten sessions over a two-week period.
Dispositivo: taVNS
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation applied via the auricular branch of the vagus nerve for neuromodulation purposes.
Comparatore attivo: Home Exercise Program
Participants followed a structured home-based exercise program for two weeks.
Comportamentale: Home Exercise Program
A structured home-based exercise program including strengthening and mobility exercises performed over a two-week period.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Exercise performance (repetition count)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Number of repetitions performed during exercise sessions to evaluate functional exercise performance.
Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Change in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) score (range: 0-100; higher scores indicate worse disease severity and functional impairment) to assess disease severity and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia.
Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Change in Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score (range: 0-63; higher scores indicate greater anxiety levels) to assess anxiety severity.
Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Change in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score (range: 0-63; higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms) to assess depression severity.
Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (range: 0-21; higher scores indicate worse sleep quality) to assess sleep quality.
Baseline (Week 0) and Week 2
Heart Rate Variability (RMSSD)
Lasso di tempo: Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Change in RMSSD (ms), reflecting parasympathetic activity.
Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Heart Rate Variability (pNN50)
Lasso di tempo: Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Change in pNN50 (%), representing parasympathetic modulation.
Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Heart Rate Variability (HF power)
Lasso di tempo: Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Change in high-frequency (HF) power (ms²), reflecting parasympathetic nervous system activity.
Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Heart Rate Variability (LF power)
Lasso di tempo: Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Change in low-frequency (LF) power (ms²), reflecting mixed sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.
Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Heart Rate Variability (LF/HF ratio)
Lasso di tempo: Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement
Change in LF/HF ratio (unitless), indicating autonomic balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Week 0 pre-exercise measurement, Week 0 post-exercise measurement, Week 2 pre-exercise measurement, and Week 2 post-exercise measurement

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Istanbul Gelisim University

Collaboratori

Bahçeşehir University

Investigatori

  • Investigatore principale: Kerem KARAGÖZ, PhD, Bahcesehir University

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Effettivo)

1 gennaio 2022

Completamento primario (Effettivo)

20 giugno 2023

Completamento dello studio (Effettivo)

20 giugno 2023

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

28 aprile 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

5 maggio 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

11 maggio 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

11 maggio 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

5 maggio 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 maggio 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Parole chiave

Termini MeSH pertinenti aggiuntivi

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • FMS-taVNS-2022-01

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

NO

Descrizione del piano IPD

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to ethical and privacy considerations. The study involves a limited sample size, and participants did not consent to data sharing beyond the scope of this research.

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .

Prove cliniche su taVNS

Cerca prove simili

Sponsor e collaboratori

Condizioni mediche

Interventi farmacologici

CROs by country

CROs in New Zealand

Condizioni

Malattie rare

Interventi farmacologici

Supplementi dietetici

Sponsor / Collaboratori

Sedi

Sottoscrivi