title: Benefits of a self-myofascial release program on health-related quality of life in people with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease with symptoms that significantly limit the life of affected patients. Earlier studies have shown that the application of self-myofascial release provides benefits in variables such as fatigue, range of motion (ROM) or perceived muscle pain in a healthy population. Despite this, the self-myofascial release technique has not yet been used in people with FM. This study aimed to find out the benefits of applying a self-myofascial release program on health-related quality of life in people with FM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six participants with FM were randomized into two groups, intervention (N.=33) and control (N.=33). The intervention group (IG) participated in the self-myofascial release program for twenty weeks. The study assessed the impact of a self-myofascial release program on cervical spine, shoulder and hip ROM and self-reported disease impact. Two measurements were performed, one at baseline (preintervention) and one postintervention. Two-way mixed-effect (between-within) ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant changes (P<0.05) were achieved between the two measurements and between groups for final Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-S) Score and for five of its seven subscales, including: days per week feeling good, pain intensity, fatigue, stiffness and depression/sadness, as well as all the ROM variables evaluated (neck flexion, neck extension, lateral neck flexion and rotation (bilateral), shoulder flexion and abduction and hip abduction) excluding hip flexion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of a self-myofascial release program can improve the health-related quality of life of people with FM, provided that regular, structured practice is carried out.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, &quot;San Vicente Mártir&quot; Catholic University of Valencia, Torrent, Valencia, Spain - diego.ceca@ucv.es.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ceca
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, &quot;San Vicente Mártir&quot; Catholic University of Valencia, Torrent, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elvira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Guzmán
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, &quot;San Vicente Mártir&quot; Catholic University of Valencia, Torrent, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pablos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D057566:Self Report