Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease with a higher prevalence in women, associated with functional disability and chronic pain. The most common treatments include medicines, physical exercise, nutritional reeducation, and psychological help. Physiotherapy commonly uses resources like therapeutic ultrasound and laser therapy. These therapies demonstrate great potential to decrease pain and the functional capacity of fibromyalgia patients. Fibromyalgia brings to the patient a characteristic of the excessive existence of sensory innervations in the palms of the hands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a conjugated therapy between ultrasound and laser therapy, in a symptomatic patient of fibromyalgia, considering as region of application of therapy the palms of the hands. The present study used a prototype of equipment developed to perform the combined application of ultrasound and laser therapy. A caucasian woman, 61 years old, with diagnostis of fibromyalgia, with pain complaints and decrease of functional capacity was submitted to 10 sessions, 2 times per week, with application on palms of the hands, 3 minutes in each hand. After treatment, it was observed a reduction of 8.900% in pain (Visual analogue Scale) and an increase of 335% (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), enabling the patient to return to daily activities. This form, a case study shows the efficacy in a new proposal of technology and methodology using equipment that enables the field overlap, as well as the application on palms of the hands, bringing to the patient, once again, the quality of life.

Keywords: Fibromyalgia; Laser therapy; Therapeutic ultrasound; Conjugated treatment; Field overlap