Effects of Photobiomodulation in a Population Suffering From Fibromyalgia
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04248972 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : January 30, 2020
Last Update Posted : February 28, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain | Device: PBM Other: PLACEBO PBM | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 44 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Short- and Long-term Effects of Photobiomodulation on Pain, Functionality, Tissue Quality, Central Sensitisation and Psychological Factors in a Population Suffering From Fibromyalgia: Protocol for a Triple-blinded Randomized Clinical Trial. |
Actual Study Start Date : | January 30, 2021 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | July 30, 2021 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 30, 2022 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Intervention
A treatment with whole body red light therapy (NovoTHOR®) will be carried out
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Device: PBM
A whole body red light therapy (NovoTHOR®) will be carried out during 20 minutes |
Placebo Comparator: PLACEBO INTERVENTION
A placebo whole body red light will be carried out
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Other: PLACEBO PBM
A placebo whole body red light will be carried out during 20 minutes |
- Change from baseline perceived pain at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is used by the patient to quantify the pain from 0 (without any pain) to 10 (the worst pain)
- Change from baseline Leisure Time Physical Activity Instrument (LTPAI) at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]The Leisure Time Physical Activity Instrument (LTPAI), used to measure the physical activity. This has four components, each with three levels of activity: light, medium, and vigorous. Scores indicate the number of hours which these activity levels had been carried out each week in the last four weeks summing as the total number of hours of physical activity
- Change from baseline Widespread Pain Index (WPI) at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]Widespread Pain Index (WPI) is a questionnaire which shows appropriate distribution and a sufficient number of body quadrants and axial skeleton pain representation. It is part of the FMS diagnosis.
- Change from baseline Symptom Severity Score (SSS) at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]Symptom Severity Score (SSS) is a questionnaire whichispart of the FMS diagnosis
- Change from baseline Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]The revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), a self-administered questionnaire comprising 21 individual questions, with a rating scale of 0-10. The questions compose three different domains: function, overall impact and symptoms score (range 0-30, 0-20 and 0-50, respectively). The FIQR total score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a greater impact of the condition on the person'slife.
- Change from baseline Pain pressure threshold in neck and upper limb at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]Tender points will be assessed using a standard pressure algometer (FPK 20; Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT, USA.): occiput at the suboccipital muscle insertions, low cervical at the anterior aspects of the intertransverse spaces at C5-C7, trapezius at the midpoint of the upper border, supraspinatus at origins, above the scapula spine near the medial border, paraspinous 3 cm lateral to the midline at the level of the mid-scapula, second rib at the second costochondral junctions, just lateral to the junctions on the upper surfaces, lateral pectoral at the level of the fourth rib at the anterior axillary line, lateral epicondylee 2 cm distal to the epicondyles and medial epicondyle at the epicondyles.
- Change from baseline Pain pressure threshold in lower limb at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]Tender points will be assessed using a standard pressure algometer (FPK 20; Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT, USA.): gluteal at the upper outer quadrants of buttocks in anterior fold of muscle, greater trochanter just posterior to the trochanteric prominence, and knees at the medial fat pad proximal to the joint line, forearm at the distal dorsal third of the forearm, thumbnail, and midfoot at the midpoint of the dorsal third metatarsal.
- Change from autonomic nervous system activity at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]The Autonomic Symptom Profile (ASP) is a validated self-report questionnaire that comprehensively assesses autonomic symptoms across 11 subscales and yields a composite autonomic symptom score, where higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome. Autonomic nervous system activity provides quantitative information regarding cardiac autonomic tone.
- Change from elastography at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]Quantified elastography in tender points. Changes in the status of myofascial trigger-points can be demonstrated with an objective and reproducible USE measure
- Change from baseline Pain catastrophizing Scale (PCS) at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]Assessment of the mechanisms by which catastrophizing impacts on pain experience. Higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome.
- Change from baseline kinesiophobia at 6 months [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]
Assessment of the fear of movement through the validated Tampa-Scale questionnaire.
Higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome.
- Change from baseline self efficacy questionnaire at 6 month [ Time Frame: time (t) 1(prior to treatment), t2 (immediately after treatment 6), t3 (3 immediately following the last treatment), t4 (2 weeks after completion of treatment), t5 ( 3 months after completion of treatment), t6 ( 6 months after completion of treatment) ]
The Self Efficacy Questionnaire assesses personal confidence to carry out an activity with the aim of successfully achieving a desired outcome.
Higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients diagnosed from FM presenting generalized pain in at least four or five regions.
- Present symptoms for at least 3 months at similar levels.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inflammatory, neurological, or orthopedic disease which can alter balance, hearing, and vision, and cognitive impairment in terms of the ability to answer questions.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04248972
Spain | |
University of Granada | |
Granada, Spain, 18016 |
Responsible Party: | SANTIAGO NAVARRO LEDESMA, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, University of Malaga |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04248972 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
PBMFM |
First Posted: | January 30, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 28, 2022 |
Last Verified: | February 2022 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Fibromyalgia Myofascial Pain Syndromes Chronic Pain Pain Neurologic Manifestations |
Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Nervous System Diseases |