Pain Education and Therapeutic Exercise for Fibromyalgia

Effects of Pain Education and Therapeutic Exercise for Patients With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia syndrome is characterized by chronic generalized musculoskeletal pain associated with fatigue, sleep disturbances and psychological problems. The European League Againts Rheumatism (EULAR) described an algorithm how to treat step by step these patients.

The objective of this trial is to evaluate if patient education plus therapeutic exercise is more effective in pain intensity, fatigue, function, strength, pain threshold, anxiety, depression, quality of life, quality of sleep, kinesiophobia, pain coping and biochemical and genetic markers and compared to therapeutic exercise.

For this purpose the investigators conduct a randomized controlled trial double-blind (patient and examiner). The investigators included patients diagnosed of fibromyalgia according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Patients included are randomized into 2 groups one receive education of pain neurophysiology plus exercise therapy and the other only exercise therapy. Groups receive 3 treatment sessions a week over 10 weeks.

The variables are measured at the beginning and end of treatment. And also some variables are measured before and after each session.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed medically with Fibromyalgia
• Diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria
• Agreement to attend to treatment sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any kind of contraindications for physical activity
• Other kind of diseases that could limit the intervention
• Previous surgery last year
• Medication modifications in the last 3 months