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Therapeutic Ultrasound and Photobiomodulation Applied on the Palm of Hands: A New Treatment for Fibromyalgia?A Man Case Study

Daniel Marques Franco, Juliana da Silva Amaral Bruno, Anderson Luis Zanchin, Heloisa Ciol, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato and Antonio Eduardo de Aquino Junior

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder put in the spotlight in the last decades. Known since the 1920s, the disease is described by multiple painful points, of heightened sensitivity to touch that prevails in women, and afflict 3% to 10% of worldwide population. Fibromyalgia affects skeletal muscles and soft tissues. However, although there is no joint pain. Pharmacological treatment consists in analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the pain. In addition, antidepressants, anxiolytics and anticonvulsants can be prescribed to control pain crises. Non-pharmacological approaches as therapeutic ultrasound and photobiomodulation are an alternative for pain relief. Recently, the synergic action of therapeutic ultrasound and photobiomodulation has emerged as an alternative to treat fibromyalgia in women when applied at the palm of hands. The success of the treatment is attributed to stimulation of neuroreceptors close to blood vessels located at the palm of hands and found to be in higher incidence in fibromyalgic patients when compared to healthy patients. This study aimed to evaluate the synergic effect of therapeutic ultrasound and photobiomodulation applied to the palm of hands of a fibromyalgic man patient. Evaluation was based on Quality Life Questionnaire (SF-36) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results show the treatment could improve the patient’s quality of life (SF-36) and reduce pain (VAS), indicating a new therapeutic approach to treat chronic disorders like fibromyalgia, reducing pain and increasing quality of life of fibromyalgic patients.