Active clinical trials for "Myofascial Pain Syndromes"

In this pilot study, the PI proposes to include 20 African American participants with Fibromyalgia to explore the effect of r TMS on pain and depressive symptoms.

The purpose of this trial was to test the combined and independent effects of 6 months of exercise and Mestinon in people with fibromyalgia. Specifically, we wanted to determine if Mestinon helped people with fibromyalgia have an easier time exercising and if their symptoms improved by the end of the trial.

To establish whether ultraviolet light exposure acutely reduces perceptions of pain in patients with fibromyalgia. To establish whether a series of UV light exposures has a cumulative effect on fibromyalgia pain.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture as a treatment for this condition. Fifty-eight women diagnosed with fibromyalgia were randomly allocated to two groups. One group received acupuncture (n=34) twice a week for 20 sessions in addition to tricyclic antidepressants and exercises. The control group (n=24) received only tricyclic antidepressants and exercises. A blinded assessor evaluated patients' pain using visual analog scale (VAS), tender points number (TePsN) and myalgic index (MI). The same assessor also evaluated quality of life (QoL) using SF-36. These evaluations were done prior to treatments, at the end of the 20 sessions, and again at six months, one year and two years after the first evaluation. At the end of the 20 sessions, patients who had received acupuncture were significantly better than those who had not in all measures of pain (VAS, TePsN, MI) and in five subscales of SF-36. After six months, the acupuncture group was significantly better than the control group in some measures of pain (TePsN and MI) and in three subscales of SF-36. After one year, the acupuncture group showed significant advantage in only one subscale of SF-36; at two years there were no significant differences between the two groups on all outcome measures. The addition of acupuncture to usual treatment for fibromyalgia is beneficial for pain and quality of life, but only in first six months.

Back pain is a huge problem for millions of Americans, including nearly 11 million Veterans. Our older Veterans suffer the most. Citizens spend billions of dollars, yet consistently get poor results. Primary Care Providers are often tasked with diagnosing and treating Chronic Low Back Pain, even though they are often undereducated in the field. These PCPs often use advanced imaging, usually MRIs to guide care. These images often show degenerative disc disease and other common pathologies in older adults, even those who are pain free, which can lead to misdiagnosis and treatment. The investigators believe that Chronic Low Back Pain is a syndrome, a final common pathway for the expression of multiple contributors that often lie outside the spine itself. For example, hip osteoarthritis, knee pain, and even anxiety could all lessen back pain if addressed and treated probably. Investigators will measure participants' low back pain-associated disability with the well-validated RMDQ. Data will be collected at baseline and monthly via telephone. The investigators hypothesize that veterans who receive PCCET will experience significantly greater reduction in low back pain-associated disability than those who receive IAUC at six months. Investigators will also measure participants' low back pain with the 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale for Pain. Data will be collected at baseline and monthly via telephone. The investigators hypothesize that veterans who receive PCCET will experience significantly greater reduction in low back pain than those who receive IAUC at six months. The goal of this study is to compare patients treated with usual care, which usually starts with imaging, versus patients who are treated by trained geriatricians who know how to recognize and address 11 key conditions that commonly drive pain and disability in older adults. The investigators believe that older patients who receive care tailored to their needs by educated PCPs will ultimately have less back pain and, more importantly, better quality of life.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a self-administered vibration therapy treatment on neck pain, disability and pressure pain thresholds in patients with non-specific neck pain and myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). The investigators hypothesized that patients receiving vibration therapy would report less perceived neck pain, disability and present higher PPTs after receiving vibration therapy when compared to a control no-treatment group.

Pain associated with fibromyalgia interferes with daily function, work, and social activities resulting in a decreased quality of life. People with fibromyalgia also have a significant amount of fatigue and a fear of movement. People with fibromyalgia show enhanced excitability of pain neurons in the central nervous system and reduced pain inhibition. Therefore, one of the main treatments for patients with fibromyalgia must focus on pain relief to allow the person to function more independently both at home and at work. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used by health professionals to deliver electrical stimulation through the skin for pain control. Basic science studies, from the PI's laboratory show that TENS activates descending pain inhibitory pathways to inhibit excitability of pain neurons. Thus the ideal patient population for the treatment of TENS would be one in which there is enhanced central excitability and reduced inhibition; fibromyalgia is such a condition. Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to patients with fibromyalgia will reduce resting and movement-related pain and reduce central excitability by restoring diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC), and that this decrease in pain and/or central excitability will reduce fatigue and fear of movement, thereby improving function and quality of life

Fibromyalgia patients frequently suffer from symptoms similar to those of adult celiac disease, raising the possibility that some fibromyalgia patients experience oligosymptomatic celiac disease or non-celiac gluten intolerance. The objective of this study is to compare the effect of a gluten-free diet with a hypocaloric diet in patients with fibromyalgia and celiac-type symptoms.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FS) is one condition that most affects functional performance, especially in women, due to alterations in the entire musculoskeletal system. Given that, Physical Therapy (PT) studies the human movement and its dysfunctions, and that FS, because of its complex chronic characteristic, impairs the affected individual's activities causing movement disorders, a PT professional must be part of the multidisciplinary team involved in the FS treatment. Nonetheless, as explained in the present proposal, several aspects still need clarification related to the PT role in this syndrome. Particularly, studies that analyze the biomechanical, sensorial and cardiorespiratory adaptations in individuals who undergo PT intervention still lack; those studies would contribute with scientific evidence to the clinical practice. According to recent systematic reviews, one of the most used therapies with positive effects on FS subjects is the hydrotherapy, which combines exercises and the water relaxing effects. Other alternative treatments have also been searched, in an attempt to decrease the painful picture presented, as the FS etiology and pathophysiology are not well known. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of different physical therapy resources in the FS, in two subprojects. The first will verify if hydrotherapy is effective in modifying movement variables (scapular kinematics and electromyography) and autonomic modulation. Other variables, such as pain level and quality of life in women with FS, will also be analyzed. The second study will evaluate the efficacy of the Shiatsu massage on pain, sleep quality, balance and quality of life of subjects with FS.

Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness of strengthening exercises using the Swiss ball in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Material and Method: Sixty FM patients were randomized into two groups: an intervention group (IG), in which patients performed muscle strength exercises using the Swiss ball, and a stretching group (SG), in which patients performed stretching exercises. All patients participated in 40-minute training sessions three times per week for 12 weeks. The IG performed the following eight strengthening exercises using a Swiss ball: lateral rise, simultaneous biceps curl, squat, two arms triceps extension, abdominal, one arm dumbbell row, reverse crucifix and crucifix. The SG performed exercises targeting the same muscle groups trained in IG. Outcome measures were as follows: visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, 1 repetition maximum test for muscle strength; fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) to evaluate disease impact, and short form health survey (SF-36) to assess quality of life. All participants underwent an evaluation at baseline, at 6 weeks and at 12 weeks of training. The assessor was blind to patient allocation.