The Therapeutic Effects of Whole-Body Vibration in Patients With Fibromyalgia. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disease with few effective therapeutic options. We evaluated the efficacy of a 12-weeks therapy program that involves the use of whole body vibration in patients with fibromyalgia. The experimental group (N = 20 patients) participated in a neuromuscular training with a rotational whole body vibration platform for 12 weeks. The control group (N = 20 patients) received no physiotherapy treatment. The following variables were assessed before, after and 3 months after the therapy program: Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, pain intensity, quality of life, sensitivity measurements (pressure pain thresholds, vibration thresholds), motor function tasks (Berg scale, 6-min walk test, isometric back muscle strength), and static and dynamic balance. We found improvements in the indexes of functional disability, static equilibrium and vibration sensitivity and a reduction of pain sensitivity. Our results showed that the intervention group improved almost all parameters immediately after the therapy program, in contrast to the control group that showed no changes. These improvements were not maintained in the follow-up. The whole body vibration therapy can be an effective therapy in patients with fibromyalgia and it can improve symptomatology and quality of life in these patients.

Efficacy of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Clinical and Functional Outcomes, and Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key molecule involved in plastic changes related to central and peripheral plasticity, neuroinflammation, pain, and other clinical symptoms in pathological conditions including FMS [ 1 , 8 ]. Of note, FMS has a vastly negative impact on clinical and functional aspects, and current literature points to physical exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy as the nonpharmacological choice interventions [ 9 ]. Once some interventions like exercise enhance the expression of BDNF in normal and pathological conditions, it is crucial to evaluate the efficacy of complementary therapeutic interventions on BDNF levels in FMS.…”

“…Concerning exercises on the vibrating platform, a review work pointed out that whole-body vibration (WBV) exercises are safe, viable, and well tolerated by patients with chronic conditions including FMS and are less tiring and time-consuming than a standard exercise protocol [ 11 ]. In this regard, despite works showing WBV in fatigue and pain [ 9 , 12 ], quality of life [ 9 , 13 – 15 ], balance [ 9 , 15 – 17 ], muscle strength [ 14 ], inflammatory status [ 4 ], and parameters of oxidative balance [ 18 ] in FMS patients, the works differed in aspects such as the vibratory stimulus (vertical or alternating), the vibratory protocol (frequency, amplitude, time of sets, rest interval, and duration), and time points (immediate or training) [ 19 , 20 ]. Moreover, because FMS presents a negative influence on several outcomes (clinical, functional, and physiological) [ 10 ], there remains a gap regarding the evaluation of primary and secondary outcomes representing different aspects of the syndrome.…”

“…In addition, the results of the works often present low effect size estimates, emphasizing the need for new studies with an experimental design and internal control ensuring methodological quality to fulfill the gaps that still exist [ 10 ]. Of note, the majority of previous works investigated the additional effects of the intervention combining whole-body vibration training (WBVT) with an associated exercise program, resulting in a gap regarding the stand-alone intervention effect [ 9 ]. Finally, as far as we know, no previous study evaluated the effects of WBVT on blood BDNF levels and crucial clinical (e.g., sleep quality and depression screening) symptoms associated with the biological rhythms in women with FMS.…”