Effect of combined manual therapy techniques with modalities on pain and discomfort of patents with fibromyalgia syndrome

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at finding out the combined effect of manual therapy and physiotherapeutic interventions on pain and discomfort in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. A general musculoskeletal assessment [SOAP] was used for all patients who were referred to the physiotherapy department with the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire [FIQ] was used to assess the pre- and post-intervention measures of pain and discomfort of four Emirati women who participated in this study. The patients who underwent combination of manual therapy techniques with electrotherapy modalities such as TENS, hydrocollatral therapy and ultrasound therapy showed significant difference in pre- and post-intervention measures of FIQ [62.5 and 35.5] compared to those who underwent electrotherapy modality treatment alone [67.4 and 46.5]. The pre- and post-intervention visual analog scale [VAS] showed significant improvement in pain reduction from 8.5 to 2 in patients who underwent combined treatment compared to modality alone from 8 to 3.5. This study concluded that the combination of manual therapy techniques with modalities has greater effect in reducing pain and improving functions compared to other forms of physiotherapeutic in the management of patients with fibromyalgia