Cumulative benefits of neuromodulation for ANS regulation in fibromyalgia

Summaries 1 min 18

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Created On: 18/12/2024

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by extensive pain, fatigue, sleep anomalies, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) abnormalities. This pilot study investigated the comparative effectiveness of neuromodulation and structured exercise for regulating ANS function in fibromyalgia patients.

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Key take away

Neuromodulation provided sustained improvements in autonomic nervous system modulation over time, suggesting valuable long-term effects for fibromyalgia treatment.

Background

Method

In this randomized crossover study, 10 female fibromyalgia patients participated in two groups: one group did neuromodulation before exercise, and the other did exercise before neuromodulation. Each group had 16 sessions over 8 weeks, with about 2 sessions per week. Afterwards, there was a 2-week break to clear any lingering effects. Then, the groups switched treatments, completing another 16 sessions in a crossover design. This ensured a fair comparison of the two approaches. Assessments of cortical arousal, microcirculation, and heart rate variability were taken before and after the 1st, 8th, and 16th sessions.

Result

Neuromodulation led to significant improvements in cortical arousal, heart rate variability, and microcirculation, while the exercise program only provided short-lived benefits in cortical arousal.

Conclusion

Neuromodulation offered a cumulative long-term advantage for ANS regulation in fibromyalgia patients. More evaluation is required to examine the delayed effects of both therapies on ANS regulation.