Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation associated with aerobic exercises on pain of patients with fibromyalgia

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of a neuromodulation technique, using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), associated with aerobic exercises in patients with fibromyalgia. This individuals present alterations in cortical excitability that are due to plastic modification of chronic pain diseases. Consequently, many alterations can occur in the body, such as the beginning of pain symptoms, postural compensations and psychological symptoms. Taking in consideration those chronic pain patients has a systemic dysfunction, we believe that combination of therapies that can induce changing in cortical excitability patterns and improvement of physical conditioning, could lead to better results in pain alleviation e consequently in their quality of life. In this study, individuals will pass through one stage with transcranial stimulation (which consist of five consecutive days) associated with an stage of the aerobic exercises training for four weeks (with a frequency of tree times per week). tDCS will be applied positioning the anode electrode over the primary motor cortex and the cathode electrode over the supra-orbital contra-lateral area, with an intensity of 2mA for 20 minutes. The aerobic exercise will be set at an intensity of 60% of maximum heart rate. Subjects will be evaluated with regard to pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, threshold of diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC), reaction time through a go-no-no task, and evaluation of cortical excitability using magnetic stimulation. With this protocol we aimed to increase the effectiveness of chronic pain therapies and try to elucidate mechanisms of action behind this processes. (AU)