EFFECTS OF AN AEROBIC EXERCISE PROTOCOL ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEMIC PHOTOBIOMODULATION ON CARDIORESPIRATORY CONDITIONING, FATIGUE AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN WOMEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA: CLINICAL, RANDOMIZED AND BLINDED TRIAL

• Grant number: 23/07420-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Claudia Muniz Renno
• Grantee: Thatiane Izabele Ribeiro Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic diffuse disease characterized by generalized musculoskeletal pain, sensitivity, sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness and the presence of multiple tender points called tender points, being more common in women. Aerobic exercises have been shown to be effective in relieving fatigue, improving cardiorespiratory capacity and functional performance in these patients, in addition to photobiomodulation (PBM), which has been shown to be effective in the treatment of FM. One of the FBM methods is intravascular blood laser irradiation (ILIB), which has positive systemic effects in modulating inflammation and reducing pain, however, there is still no evidence of the association of the two therapeutic modalities. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the association of aerobic exercises with ILIB in the improvement of cardiorespiratory capacity, fatigue and functional capacity of women with FM. For this, women diagnosed with FM were randomized and divided into two groups: exercise group and active ILIB and exercise group and placebo ILIB. Before the first session and after the last treatment session, the cardiorespiratory capacity will be evaluated through a cardiopulmonary exercise test; pain through the numeric pain scale; the level of perceived fatigue through a specific questionnaire; performance fatigue using an isokinetic dynamometer; and functional capability through performance-based testing. Aerobic exercise interventions will be performed using a stationary bicycle with gradual increase in load and application of active ILIB laser or placebo over 12 weeks, twice a week. The study will use a significance level of 5%.