title: A New Rehabilitation Tool in Fibromyalgia: The Effects of Perceptive Rehabilitation on Pain and Function in a Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Introduction/Objective. Fibromyalgia might benefit from a specific tactile and proprioceptive rehabilitation approach. The aim of this study was to perform a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of perceptual surfaces (PS) and physical exercises with regard to chronic pain and physical function in fibromyalgia compared with a control group. Methods. Data from 54 females (18-60 years old) with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and scoring >5 on the visual analog scale were divided into 3 groups and analyzed: group treated with perceptual surfaces (PS-group), physical exercises group (PE-group), and control group (CG). The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Fibromyalgia Assessment Scale (FAS) were administered at baseline (T0), at the end of the treatment (T1) (after 10 rehabilitation sessions over a 5-week period), and at the 12-week follow-up (T2). Results. The PS-group experienced a statistically significant improvement versus the CG in FAS and HAQ scores. Good efficacy with respect to pain and function in the PE-group compared with the CG in terms of FAS, HAQ, and FIQ scores was observed. The adherence ratio was 86% for the PE-group and CG and 90% for the PS-group. Conclusions. According to the results, the PS are as promising as the physical exercises, since results were similar.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldari
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Rheumatology Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Franco
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Rheumatology Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Didona
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Sport, Health, and Human Development, University of Tras-Os-Monte and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vetrano
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trifoglio
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zangrando
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Salus infirmorum, S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spadini
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Saraceni
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guidetti