Analysis of the Muscular Activity, Peak Torque in the Lower Limbs, and Static Balance after Virtual Rehabilitation in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: To analyze the effect of the exergaming on muscular activity at rest and on maximum voluntary isometric contraction by electromyography (EMG) at peak torque, widespread pressure hyperalgesia identified using a tender point count, and static balance in fibromyalgia. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five women were divided into two groups: Wii™ (virtual rehabilitation, n = 16) and control (stretching exercises, n = 19), through simple randomization. The volunteers were evaluated by means of EMG, dynamometry by load cell, baropodometry, and algometry before interventions and reevaluated after the 10th and 20th sessions. The subjects participated fully in three 1-hour treatment sessions per week of 20 sessions. Results: The Wii group showed significant benefits for the peak torque of dorsiflexion movement after 20 sessions and for movement plantarflexion after 10 sessions. The control group showed bilateral improvement in muscular activity in the tibialis anterior muscle after 20 sessions. Both groups showed a significant decrease in tender point count, suggesting improved hyperalgesia after 10 sessions and 20 sessions. No significant improvement was found in static baropodometry in the two evaluated groups. Conclusion: Exergaming have the potential to increase the peak torque for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion movement in women with fibromyalgia. It also produces a decrease in tender point count equal to that with flexibility exercises and does not produce changes in the static balance.

Effects of Exergames in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: Evaluation of the effects of exergames in women with fibromyalgia on the impact of the disease-pain threshold and physical variables-compared to performing stretching exercises. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five women were enrolled in the study and divided by simple randomization into two treatment groups: the control group (n = 19) and the Wii™ (exergames) group (n = 16). Participants were evaluated using the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), algometry, step tests, cardiopulmonary parameters, and fatigue in the lower limbs. The participants underwent treatments for a period of 7 weeks with three 1-hour sessions weekly and were reevaluated after the 10th and the 20th sessions. Results: The exergames group showed significant reduction of their fibromyalgia symptoms, as demonstrated by lower FIQ scores in the key domains on questions regarding missed work, pain, fatigue, problems resting, stiffness, anxiety, and depression. Significant improvements were observed in mean algometric values in the cervical region, the second chondrocostal junction, the lateral epicondyle, left medial knee border, left occipital region, trapezius, supraspinatus, gluteal muscles, and the greater trochanter. Improved cardiovascular adaptation was reflected by decreased systolic blood pressure, reduction in fatigue of the lower limbs assessed by the CR10 Borg scale, and improved exercise capacity assessed by a step test. Conclusion: Exergames have the potential to increase exercise capacity, decrease the impact of fibromyalgia, promote cardiovascular adaptation, reduce fatigue of lower limbs, and improve the pain threshold in women with fibromyalgia.