Open AccessAnalysis of the Muscular Activity, Peak Torque in the Lower Limbs, and Static Balance after Virtual Rehabilitation in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Marcelo Carvalho,
Leonardo César Carvalho,
Ricardo da Silva Alves,
Flávia da Silva Menezes,
Elenara da Costa Gomes,
Andressa Frazin,
Denise Hollanda Iunes
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
games for health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.764
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2161-7856
pISSN - 2161-783X
DOI - 10.1089/g4h.2020.0206
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , fibromyalgia , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , rehabilitation , electromyography , static stretching , balance (ability) , psychology , range of motion
Objective: To analyze the effect of the exergaming on muscular activity at rest and on maximum voluntary isometric contraction by electromyography (EMG) at peak torque, widespread pressure hyperalgesia identified using a tender point count, and static balance in fibromyalgia. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five women were divided into two groups: Wii™ (virtual rehabilitation, n = 16) and control (stretching exercises, n = 19), through simple randomization. The volunteers were evaluated by means of EMG, dynamometry by load cell, baropodometry, and algometry before interventions and reevaluated after the 10th and 20th sessions. The subjects participated fully in three 1-hour treatment sessions per week of 20 sessions. Results: The Wii group showed significant benefits for the peak torque of dorsiflexion movement after 20 sessions and for movement plantarflexion after 10 sessions. The control group showed bilateral improvement in muscular activity in the tibialis anterior muscle after 20 sessions. Both groups showed a significant decrease in tender point count, suggesting improved hyperalgesia after 10 sessions and 20 sessions. No significant improvement was found in static baropodometry in the two evaluated groups. Conclusion: Exergaming have the potential to increase the peak torque for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion movement in women with fibromyalgia. It also produces a decrease in tender point count equal to that with flexibility exercises and does not produce changes in the static balance.