Effects of Manual Therapy on Autonomic Nervous System's Balance, Pain and Well-being in Patients With Fibromyalgia.

Effects of Manual Therapy on Autonomic Nervous System's Balance, Pain and Well-being in Patients With Fibromyalgia.

Scientific literature dealing with patients with fibromyalgia conveys they suffer from an abnormal response of the autonomic nervous sýstem, where a marked sympathetic hyperactivity and a decrease in heart rate variability are emphasized. It is important to know what manual therapy techniques may manage to decrease the sympathetic activity and balance the sympathetic-vagal tone, therefore improving pain and life quality.

This study will compare the effects of joint passive mobilization with the effects of soft tissue active mobilization on heart rate variability (as an indicator of autonomous regulation), psychological well-being (measured by the Ryff scale) and pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

Scientific literature dealing with patients with fibromyalgia conveys they suffer from an abnormal response of the autonomic nervous sýstem, where a marked sympathetic hyperactivity and a decrease in heart rate variability are emphasized. It is important to know what manual therapy techniques may manage to decrease the sympathetic activity and balance the sympathetic-vagal tone, therefore improving pain and life quality.

This study will compare the effects of joint passive mobilization with the effects of soft tissue active mobilization on heart rate variability (as an indicator of autonomous regulation), psychological well-being (measured by the Ryff scale) and pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

The authors expect a stronger decrease in the sympathetic nervous system activation; a greater reduction in pain, and a bigger improvement in well-being and anxiety in those patients treated with active mobilization of soft tissues than passive mobilization group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Rheumatologic diagnosis of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue labels, sleep disorders, recurrent cervical pain associated with fibromyalgia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smokers, blood pressure superior to 160/100 mm/Hg, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, presence of Diabetes I or II, being pregnant, psychiatric disorder established, any trauma suffered in the last 6 months, diagnosis of osteoarthritis, consumption of caffeine, alcohol or other stimulating substance at least 24 hours before the experimental intervention, performing moderate-intense physical activity 2 hours before the experimental intervention.