Influence of virtual reality on pain, fatigue, functional capacity and quality of life in fibromyalgia: a case study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5935/0104-7795.20170039Keywords:
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, Quality of Life, Fatigue, CatastrophizationAbstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Virtual Reality (VR) associated with physical exercises on quality of life, fatigue, pain levels, and functional capacity in a woman with Fibromyalgia. Methods: This is a case report that evaluated one patient diagnosed with FM before and after the intervention with RV associated with physical exercise. The evaluation scales used were: Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale for Pain, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and pressure pain threshold evaluation at the 18 tender points with a digital pressure algometer. Treatment was conducted for 6 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, totaling 12 treatment sessions. Results: The study showed that treatment with VR promoted an improvement in the impact of FM in the volunteer's quality life, a decrease in catastrophic sensation of pain and a decrease in fatigue. It was also possible to notice an improvement in the pressure pain threshold at 16 tender points. Conclusion: A rehabilitation program for people with FM that involves VR combined with the practice of physical exercises contributed to the improvement of cognitive and physical aspects. The association of these two therapies was beneficial, since cognitive stimuli and the practice of a physical activity could promote improvements in function, fatigue, quality of life, and pain perception of these individuals.
Downloads
References
Ericsson A, Mannerkorpi K. How to manage fatigue in fibromyalgia: nonpharmacological options. Pain Manag. 2016;6(4):331-8. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2217/pmt-2016-0015
Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, Goldenberg DL, Hauser W, Katz RS, et al. Fibromyalgia criteria and severity scales for clinical and epidemiological studies: a modification of the ACR preliminary diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 2011;38(6):1113-22. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.100594
Russell IJ, Larson AA. Neurophysiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome: a unified hypothesis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2009;35(2):421-35. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rdc.2009.06.005
Arnold LM, Crofford LJ, Mease PJ, Burgess SM, Palmer SC, Abetz L, et al. Patient perspectives on the impact of fibromyalgia. Patient Educ Couns. 2008; 73(1):114-20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.06.005
Bennett RM, Bushmakin AG, Cappelleri JC, Zlateva G, Sadosky AB. Minimal clinically important difference in the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire. J Rheumatol. 2009;36(6):1304-11. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.081090
Morris LD, Grimmer-Somers KA, Spottiswoode B, Louw QA. Virtual reality exposure therapy as treatment for pain catastrophizing in fibromyalgia patients: proof-of-concept study (Study Protocol). BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011;12(1):85. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-85
Morris LD, Louw QA, Grimmer KA, Meintjes E. Targeting pain catastrophization in patients with fibromyalgia using virtual reality exposure therapy: a proof-of-concept study. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015;27(11):3461-7. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.3461
Cánovas R, León I, Roldáá´n MD, Astur R, Cimadevilla JM. Virtual reality tasks disclose spatial memory alterations in Fibromyalgia. Rheumatology. 2009; 48(10):1273-8. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kep218
Collado-Mateo D, Dominguez-Muñoz FJ, Adsuar JC, Merellano-Navarro E, Gusi N. Exergames for women with fibromyalgia: a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects on mobility skills, balance and fear of falling. Peer J. 2017;5:e3211.
Garcia-Palacios A, Herrero R, Vizcaíno Y, Belmonte MA, Castilla D, Molinari G, et al. Integrating virtual reality with activity management for the treatment of fibromyalgia: acceptability and preliminary efficacy. Clin J Pain. 2015;31(6):564-72. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000196
Wolfe F, Smythe HA, Yunus MB, Bennett RM, Bombardier C, Goldenberg DL, et al. The American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia. Report of the Multicenter Criteria Committee. Arthritis Rheum. 1990;33(2):160-72. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/art.1780330203
Herrero R, García-Palacios A, Castilla D, Molinari G, Botella C. Virtual reality for the induction of positive emotions in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a pilot study over acceptability, satisfaction, and the effect of virtual reality on mood. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2014;17(6):379-84. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0052
Ramachandran VS, Seckel EL. Using mirror visual feedback and virtual reality to treat fibromyalgia. Med Hypotheses. 2010;75(6):495-6. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2010.07.003
Nicassio PM, Moxham EG, Schuman CE, Gevirtz RN. The contribution of pain, reported sleep quality, and depressive symptoms to fatigue in fibromyalgia. Pain. 2002;100(3):271-9. PMID: 12467998 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00300-7
Estévez-López F, Álvarez-Gallardo IC, Segura-Jiménez V, Soriano-Maldonado A, Borges-Cosic M, Pulido-Martos M, et al. The discordance between subjectively and objectively measured physical function in women with fibromyalgia: association with catastrophizing and self-efficacy cognitions. The al-Ándalus project. Disabil Rehabil. 2018;40(3):329-37.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2017 Acta Fisiátrica
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
