In a recent study led by L. A. Matsutani and colleagues (2007), the effectiveness of a treatment regimen consisting of muscle stretching exercises, with or without laser therapy at tender points, was examined in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM). The primary objective was to gauge the impact of these interventions on improving the quality of life for individuals with FM.

The study, which involved twenty FM patients, randomly assigned participants into two groups: one group underwent laser therapy combined with stretching exercises (LSG, n=10), while the other group solely engaged in stretching exercises (SG, n=10). Pain levels were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and dolorimetry at tender points, while quality of life was evaluated through the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).

Following the treatment program, both the LSG and SG groups demonstrated significant reductions in pain levels, evidenced by higher pain thresholds at tender points (all p<0.01). Additionally, there were notable decreases in mean FIQ scores and increases in SF-36 mean scores (all p<0.05), indicating an improvement in overall quality of life for participants in both groups.

Interestingly, no significant differences were observed between the two groups, suggesting that the addition of laser therapy did not confer any additional advantages when combined with muscle stretching exercises.

In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that a regimen of stretching exercises is effective in alleviating pain and enhancing quality of life for individuals with FM. However, the incorporation of laser therapy alongside stretching exercises did not yield discernible benefits. These results underscore the potential efficacy of non-invasive, exercise-based interventions as a viable treatment option for managing FM symptoms and improving patient well-being.

Reference: Matsutani, L. A., Marques, A. P., Ferreira, E. A., Assumpção, A., Lage, L. V., Casarotto, R. A., & Pereira, C. A. (2007). Effectiveness of muscle stretching exercises with and without laser therapy at tender points for patients with fibromyalgia. Clin Exp Rheumatol, 25(3), 410-5.