Efficacy of Myofascial Release in Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of widespread pain, decreased pain threshold and other characteristic symptoms. These other symptoms include undue fatigue, insomnia, joint pain, headache, chest pain, irritable bowel syndrome, jerky leg movements, numbness and tingling in various body parts. For the management of these symptoms many medical and physiotherapeutic interventions are used. Myofascial release is an important technique which is used to reduce these symptoms. Previous studies have been done to find out the effect of myofascial release in fibromyalgia. But there are not much studies which elucidate how myofascial release is effective in reducing these symptoms. The present study made an effort to find out the efficacy of myofascial release on patients with fibromyalgia and how its influence on VAS scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Self Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. (FIQ). The mean, standard deviation, t value and t test for all the variables were calculated. It was concluded that myofascial release has a significant effect on VAS scale however there is reduction in ESS, STAI, FIQ but not upto significant level.