Abnormal microcirculation and temperature in skin above tender points in patients with fibromyalgia

Objective. Skin temperature and skin blood flow were studied above different tender points in 20 patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and 20 healthy controls. Methods. Blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and skin temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer. Results. In the skin above the five tender points examined in each subject, we found an increased concentration of erythrocytes, decreased erythrocyte velocity and a consequent decrease in the flux of erythrocytes. A decrease in temperature was recorded above four of the five tender points. Conclusion. Vasoconstriction occurs in the skin above tender points in FM patients, supporting the hypothesis that FM is related to local hypoxia in the skin above tender point

Abnormal microcirculation and temperature in skin above tender points in patients with fibromyalgia

Objective. Skin temperature and skin blood flow were studied above different tender points in 20 patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and 20 healthy controls. Methods. Blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and skin temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer. Results. In the skin above the five tender points examined in each subject, we found an increased concentration of erythrocytes, decreased erythrocyte velocity and a consequent decrease in the flux of erythrocytes. A decrease in temperature was recorded above four of the five tender points. Conclusion. Vasoconstriction occurs in the skin above tender points in FM patients, supporting the hypothesis that FM is related to local hypoxia in the skin above tender point

Comparação dos efeitos da estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea e da hidroterapia na dor, flexibilidade e qualidade de vida de pacientes com fibromialgia Comparison of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and hydrotherapy effects on pain, flexibility and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia

Este estudo visou comparar a eficácia da hidroterapia e da estimulação elétrica transcutânea do nervo (TENS) na melhora da sintomatologia de pacientes com fibromialgia Participaram do estudo 10 sujeitos com fibromialgia (48,8±9,8 anos) divididos em dois grupos: um tratado com hidroterapia e outro com TENS. Todos foram avaliados antes e após o tratamento quanto à flexibilidade (pelo índice terceiro dedo-solo), dor (por escala visual-analógica), qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (pelos questionários SF-36 e Nottingham Health Profile - NHP) e tendência à depressão (pelo Inventário de Beck). Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente, com nível de significância fixado em p<0,05. O grupo TENS obteve melhora estatisticamente significante na intensidade da dor, na qualidade de vida medida pelo SF-36 e em alguns quesitos do NHP, enquanto a hidroterapia promoveu uma melhora na qualidade de vida medida pelo SF-36. Ambos os tratamentos foram assim eficazes ao melhorar o condicionamento físico, porém a TENS propiciou melhores resultados quanto à dor e em maior número das variáveis analisadas do que a hidroterapia, sugerindo ser mais eficaz no tratamento da fibromialgia.<br>The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of hydrotherapy and of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) on symptomology of patients with fibromyalgia. Ten subjects (aged 48.8±9.8 years) with fibromyalgia were divided into two groups, one treated with hydrotherapy, the other with TENS. All were evaluated before and after treatment as to flexibility (by means of the fingertip-to-floor test), pain (by visual analogue scale), health-related quality of life (by the SF-36 and the Nottingham Health Profile - NHP - questionnaires) and trend to depression (by the Beck's Depression Inventory). Data were statistically analysed, and significance level set at p<0.05. Results show that patients treated with TENS had significant pain reduction and better quality of life as measured by the SF-36 and some NHP items, while patients treated with hydrotherapy showed improvement in SF-36 scores. It may hence be said that both treatments were efficient in improving physical functioning, but TENS produced better results in relieving pain and in a greater number of variables, suggesting that it is more efficient for treating fibromyalgia