Effects of Manual Therapy in People with Fibromyalgia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Efectos de la terapia manual en personas con fibromialgia: Revisión sistemática y metaanálisis
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Show authors biography
Objective. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the effects of manual therapy applied in isolation in comparison to other interventions on pain, functional capacity, global impression of improvement, and self-perceived severity of symptoms in people with fibromyalgia.
Methodology. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted with electronic search of MEDLINE, WoS, SCOPUS, PEDro, CENTRAL, and LILACS.
Results. Eleven studies met the selection criteria and six were included in a quantitative synthesis. Pain at the end of treatment had a mean difference of -0.42 (95% CI -1.14, 0.30, p = 0.25), functional status at the end of treatment had a mean difference of -0.15 (95% CI - 0.69, 0.40, p = 0.60), the global impression of health at the end of treatment had a mean difference of -1.13 (95% CI -1.68, -0.57 p = <0.00) and a mean difference of -0.48 after twelve months (95% CI -0.78, -0.19 p = <0.00), the global impression of severity after the intervention had a mean difference of -0.62 (95% CI -1.22, -0.03, p = 0.04 ) and a mean difference of -0.43 after twelve months (95% CI -1.18, 0.32, p = 0.26).
Conclusions. Isolated manual therapy is an intervention that could significantly improve the self-perception of the global state of improvement and severity of symptoms in the short term compared to sham physical agents. However, it is not better than other interventions to reduce pain and improve functional capacity.
Article visits 710 | PDF visits 197
- Sarzi-Puttini P, Giorgi V, Marotto D, Atzeni F. Fibromyalgia: An update on clinical characteristics, aetiopathogenesis and treatment. Nat Rev Rheumatol [Internet]. 2020;16(11):645-60. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-020-00506-w
- Treede R-D, Rief W, Barke A, Aziz Q, Bennett MI, Benoliel R, et al. Chronic pain as a symptom or a disease: The IASP Classification of Chronic Pain for the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Pain [Internet]. 2019;160:19-27. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001384
- Üçeyler N, Burgmer M, Friedel E, Greiner W, Petzke F, Sarholz M, et al. [Etiology and pathophysiology of fibromyalgia syndrome: Updated guidelines 2017, overview of systematic review articles and overview of studies on small fiber neuropathy in FMS subgroups]. Schmerz [Internet]. 2017;31(3):239-45. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-017-0202-5
- Sallinen M, Mengshoel AM. “I just want my life back!” - Men’s narratives about living with fibromyalgia. Disabil Rehabil [Internet]. 2019;41(4):422-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1395085
- Heidari F, Afshari M, Moosazadeh M. Prevalence of fibromyalgia in general population and patients, a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatol Int [Internet]. 2017;37(9):1527-39. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-017-3725-2
- Queiroz LP. Worldwide epidemiology of fibromyalgia. Curr Pain Headache Rep [Internet]. 2013;17(8). doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-013-0356-5
- Cabo-Meseguer A, Cerdá-Olmedo G, Trillo-Mata JL. Fibromyalgia: Prevalence, epidemiologic profiles and economic costs. Fibromialgia: prevalencia, perfiles epidemiológicos y costes económicos. Med Clin (Barc) [Internet]. 2017 Nov 22;149(10):441-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medcli.2017.06.008
- Wolfe F, Clauw D, Fitzcharles M, Goldenberg D, Häuser W, Katz R, et al. Revisions to the 2010/2011 fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Semin Artritis Reum [Internet]. 2016;46(3):319-29. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2016.08.012
- Araya-Quintanilla F, Gutiérrez-Espinoza H, Muñoz-Yánez MJ, Cavero-Redondo I, Álvarez-Bueno C, Martinez-Vizcaíno V. Effectiveness of a multicomponent treatment versus conventional treatment in patients with fibromyalgia. Study Protocol. Medicine [Internet]. 2020;99(4):e18833. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000018833
- Giusti EM, Castelnuovo G, Molinari E. Differences in Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Treatment Programs for Fibromyalgia: A Mapping Review. Pain Res Manag [Internet]. 2017;2017:7261468. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7261468
- Macfarlane GJ, Kronisch C, Dean LE, Atzeni F, Häuser W, Fluß E, et al. EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Ann Rheum Dis [Internet]. 2017;76(2):318-28. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209724
- Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia: a clinical review. JAMA [Internet]. 2014;311(15):1547-55. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.3266
- Winkelmann A, Bork H, Brückle W, Dexl C, Heldmann P, Henningsen P, et al. Physiotherapie, ergotherapie und physikalische Verfahren Beim Fibromyalgiesyndrom. Schmerz [Internet]. 2017;31(3):255-65. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-017-0203-4
- Gikaro JM, Bigambo FM, Minde VM, Swai EA. Efficacy of electrophysical agents in fibromyalgia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil [Internet]. 2023;37(10):1295-310. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155231170450
- Degenhardt B, van Dun PLS, Jacobson E, et al. Profession-based manual therapy nomenclature: exploring history, limitations, and opportunities. J Man Manip Ther. 2024;32(1):96-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2023.2288495
- Mintken PE, DeRosa C, Little T, Smith B. A model for standardizing manipulation terminology in physical therapy practice. J Man Manip Ther [Internet]. 2008;16(1):50-6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1179/106698108790818567
- Montoya P, Pauli P, Batra A, Wiedemann G. Altered processing of pain-related information in patients with fibromyalgia. Eur J Pain [Internet]. 2005;9(3):293-303. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpain.2004.07.012
- Desmeules JA, Cedraschi C, Rapiti E, Baugmartner E, Finckh A, Cohen P, et al. Neurophysiologic evidence for a central sensitization in patients with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum [Internet]. 2003;48(5):1420-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/art.10893
- Bialosky JE, Bishop MD, Price DD, Robinson ME, George SZ. The mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: A comprehensive model. Man Ther [Internet]. 2009;14(5):531-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2008.09.001
- Simmonds N, Miller P, Gemmell H. A theoretical framework for the role of fascia in manual therapy. J Bodyw Mov Ther [Internet]. 2012; 16(1):83-93. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2010.08.001
- Gay CW, Robinson ME, George SZ, Perlstein WM, Bishop MD. Immediate changes after manual therapy in resting-state functional connectivity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging in participants with induced low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther [Internet]. 2014;37(9):614-27. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.09.001
- Ughreja RA, Venkatesan P, Balebail Gopalakrishna DB, Singh YP. Effectiveness of myofascial release on pain, sleep, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review. Complement Ther Clin Pract [Internet]. 2021;45:101477. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101477
- Yuan SLK, Matsutani LA, Marques AP. Effectiveness of different styles of massage therapy in fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Man Ther [Internet]. 2015;20(2):257-64. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2014.09.003
- Li YH, Wang FY, Feng CQ, Yang XF, Sun YH. Massage therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One [Internet]. 2014;9(2):e89304. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089304
- Ernst E. Chiropractic treatment for fibromyalgia: a systematic review. Clin Rheumatol [Internet]. 2009;28(10):1175-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-009-1217-9
- Schneider M, Vernon H, Ko G, Lawson G, Perera J. Chiropractic management of fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review of the literature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther [Internet]. 2009;32(1):25-40. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.08.012
- Hernando-Garijo I, Jiménez-Del-Barrio S, Mingo-Gómez T, Medrano-de-la-Fuente R, Ceballos-Laita L. Effectiveness of non-pharmacological conservative therapies in adults with fibromyalgia: A systematic review of high-quality clinical trials. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil [Internet]. 2022;35(1):3-20. doi: https://doi.org/10.3233/bmr-200282
- Haller H, Lauche R, Sundberg T, Dobos G, Cramer H. Craniosacral therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Musculoskelet Disord [Internet]. 2019;21(1):1. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-3017-y
- Sturman S, Killingback C. Is there a dose response relationship between soft tissue manual therapy and clinical outcomes in fibromyalgia? J Bodyw Mov Ther [Internet]. 2020;24(3):141-53. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.02.010
- Algar-Ramírez M, Úbeda-D'Ocasar E, Hervás-Pérez JP. Efficacy of manual lymph drainage and myofascial therapy in patients with fibromyalgia: A systematic review. Schmerz [Internet]. 2021;35(5):349-59. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00482-020-00520-7
- Schulze NB, Salemi MM, de Alencar GG, Moreira MC, de Siqueira GR. Efficacy of Manual Therapy on Pain, Impact of Disease, and Quality of Life in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review. Pain Physician [Internet]. 2020;23(5):461-76. Disponible en: https://www.painphysicianjournal.com/current/pdf?article=NzEyOA%3D%3D&journal=130
- Higgins JP, Green S, editores. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2008. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470712184
- Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Medicine [Internet]. 2009;6(7): e1000097. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
- Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gøtzsche PC, Ioannidis JPA, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med [Internet]. 2009;6(7):e1000100. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100
- Sterne JAC, Savović J, Page MJ, Elbers RG, Blencowe NS, Boutron I, et al. RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ [Internet]. 2019;366:l4898. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4898
- Fritz CO, Morris PE, Richler JJ. Effect size estimates: current use, calculations, and interpretation. J Exp Psychol Gen. 2012;141(1):2-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024338
- Grindem H, Mansournia MA, Øiestad BE, Ardern CL. Was it a good idea to combine the studies? Why clinicians should care about heterogeneity when making decisions based on systematic reviews. Br J Sports Med [Internet]. 2019;53(7):399-401. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099516
- Sterne JA, Egger M, Smith GD. Systematic reviews in health care: Investigating and dealing with publication and other biases in meta-analysis. BMJ [Internet]. 2001;323(7304):101-5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7304.101
- Sterne JA, Sutton AJ, Ioannidis JP, Terrin, N, Jones DR, Lau J, et al. Recommendations for examining and interpreting funnel plot asymmetry in meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ [Internet]. 2011;343:d4002. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d4002
- Albers J, Jäkel A, Wellmann K, von Hehn U, Schmidt T. Effectiveness of 2 osteopathic treatment approaches on pain, pressure-pain threshold, and disease severity in patients with fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial. Complement Med Res [Internet]. 2018;25(2):122-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1159/000464343
- Castro-Sánchez AM, Matarán-Peñarrocha GA, Sánchez-Labraca N, Quesada-Rubio JM, Granero-Molina J, Moreno-Lorenzo C. A randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of craniosacral therapy on pain and heart rate variability in fibromyalgia patients. Clin Rehabil [Internet]. 2011;25(1):25-35. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215510375909
- Castro-Sánchez AM, Matarán-Peñarrocha GA, Granero-Molina J, Aguilera-Manrique G, Quesada-Rubio JM, Moreno-Lorenzo C. Benefits of massage-myofascial release therapy on pain, anxiety, quality of sleep, depression, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med [Internet]. 2011:1-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/561753
- Castro-Sánchez AM, Matarán-Peñarrocha GA, Arroyo-Morales M, Saavedra-Hernández M, Fernández-Sola C, Moreno-Lorenzo C. Effects of myofascial release techniques on pain, physical function, and postural stability in patients with fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil [Internet]. 2011;25(9):800-13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215511399476
- Castro-Sánchez AM, Aguilar-Ferrándiz ME, Matarán-Peñarrocha GA, Sánchez-Joya M del, Arroyo-Morales M, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C. Short-term effects of a manual therapy protocol on pain, physical function, quality of sleep, depressive symptoms, and pressure sensitivity in women and men with fibromyalgia syndrome. Clin J Pain [Internet]. 2014;30(7):589-97. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0000000000000008
- Castro Sánchez AM, García López H, Fernández Sánchez M, Pérez Mármol JM, Aguilar-Ferrándiz ME, Luque Suárez A, et al. Improvement in clinical outcomes after dry needling versus myofascial release on pain pressure thresholds, quality of life, fatigue, pain intensity, quality of sleep, anxiety, and depression in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Disabil Rehabil [Internet]. 2019;41(19):2235-46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1461259
- Ekici G, Bakar Y, Akbayrak T, Yuksel I. Comparison of manual lymph drainage therapy and connective tissue massage in women with fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther [Internet]. 2009;32(2):127-33. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.12.001
- Ekici G, Unal E, Akbayrak T, Vardar-Yagli N, Yakut Y, Karabulut E. Effects of active/passive interventions on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia: Randomized Controlled Pilot trial. Women Health [Internet]. 2017;57(1):88-107. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2016.1153017
- Marske C, Bernard N, Palacios A, Wheeler C, Preiss B, Brown M, et al. Fibromyalgia with gabapentin and osteopathic manipulative medicine: A pilot study. J Altern Complement Med [Internet]. 2018;24(4):395-402. doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0178
- Nadal-Nicolás Y, Rubio-Arias JÁ, Martínez-Olcina M, Reche-García C, Hernández-García M, Martínez-Rodríguez A. Effects of manual therapy on fatigue, pain, and psychological aspects in women with fibromyalgia. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2020;17(12):4611. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124611
- Salgado AS, Takemoto MH, de Souza CF, Salm DC, da Rosa D, Cardoso GC, et al. Gentle touch therapy, pain relief and neuroplasticity at baseline in fibromyalgia syndrome: A randomized, Multicenter trial with six-month follow-up. J Clin Med [Internet]. 2022;11(16):4898. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11164898
- Farrar JT, Pritchett YL, Robinson M, Prakash A, Chappell A. The clinical importance of changes in the 0 to 10 numeric rating scale for worst, least, and average pain intensity: analyses of data from clinical trials of duloxetine in pain disorders. J Pain [Internet]. 2010;11(2):109-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2009.06.007
- Mease PJ, Spaeth M, Clauw DJ, Arnold LM, Bradley LA, Russell IJ, et al. Estimation of minimum clinically important difference for pain in fibromyalgia. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) [Internet]. 2011;63(6):821-6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.20449
- Bennett RM, Bushmakin AG, Cappelleri JC, Zlateva G, Sadosky AB. Minimal clinically important difference in the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire. J Rheumatol [Internet]. 2009;36(6):1304-11. doi: https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.081090
- Lund I, Lundeberg T, Carleson J, Sönnerfors H, Uhrlin B, Svensson E. Corticotropin releasing factor in urine – a possible biochemical marker of fibromyalgia. Responses to massage and guided relaxation. Neurosci Lett [Internet]. 2006;403(1-2):166-71. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2006.04.038
- Bialosky JE, Beneciuk JM, Bishop MD, Coronado RA, Penza CW, Simon CB, et al. Unraveling the Mechanisms of Manual Therapy: Modeling an Approach. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther [Internet]. 2018;48(1):8-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2018.7476
- Coronado RA, Bialosky JE. Manual physical therapy for chronic pain: the complex whole is greater than the sum of its parts. J Man Manip Ther [Internet]. 2017;25(3):115-7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2017.1309344
- Meier ML, Hotz-Boendermaker S, Boendermaker B, Luechinger R, Humphreys BK. Neural responses of posterior to anterior movement on lumbar vertebrae: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther [Internet]. 2014;37(1):32-41. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.09.004
- Gay CW, Robinson ME, George SZ, Perlstein WM, Bishop MD. Immediate changes after manual therapy in resting-state functional connectivity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging in participants with induced low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther [Internet]. 2014;37(9):614-27. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.09.001
- Laimi K, Mäkilä A, Bärlund E, Katajapuu N, Seikkula V, Karppinen J, et al. Effectiveness of myofascial release in treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review. Clin Rehabil [Internet]. 2018;32(4):440-50. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215517732820
- Valera-Calero JA, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Navarro-Santana MJ, Plaza-Manzano G. Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2022;19(16):9904. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169904
- Rodríguez Torres J, Cabrera Martos I, Torres Sánchez I, Ortiz Rubio A, Díaz Pelegrina A, Valenza MC. Results of an Active Neurodynamic Mobilization Program in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil [Internet]. 2015;96(10):1771-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.06.008
- Araya-Quintanilla F, Gutierrez-Espinoza H, Fuentes J, Prieto-Lafrentz F, Pavez L, Cristi-Montero C, et al. Effectiveness of multicomponent treatment in patients with fibromyalgia: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev [Internet]. 2020 Dec 15;11(1):69 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-127742/v1