Laserterapia como tratamento complementar na fibromialgia

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a non-inflammatory idiopathic syndrome whose main symptom is chronic widespread pain. In addition to myalgia, it is accompanied by alterations in the central nervous, endocrine, and psychological systems, leading to sleep disorders, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and various other signs and symptoms. Laser therapy, in turn, consists of the use of laser as a therapeutic alternative, producing biological, physical, and chemical effects. Among its numerous benefits are anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, a sensation of well-being and relaxation, anti-edematous action, and increased vascular permeability. In this sense, laser therapy appears to have a promising effect in treating the main symptoms caused by fibromyalgia syndrome. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy as a complementary treatment in individuals with fibromyalgia. This is an action-research study conducted with women diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews, the FIQ questionnaire, and the VAS scale. Data organization and analysis were based on full transcription of the interviews. Content Analysis, according to Bardin (2016), was used to examine the qualitative data, and a percentage-change analysis was performed on the scores of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The study complied with the ethical guidelines of CNS Resolution No. 466/12 and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under Opinion No. 5.690.639. The results outlined the social profile of these women, with a mean age of 46.55 years, residents of the municipalities of Picos and Itainópolis; 60% were married, 90% were mothers, and 100% had or previously had an occupation requiring high physical effort and repetitive movements. Regarding their health profile, all participants had at least one chronic condition in addition to fibromyalgia and reported the social, physical, and mental impact caused by the syndrome. Among the participants in the experimental group, 80% achieved positive results with the application of ILIB, reporting pain relief, reduced fatigue, and improved sleep quality. These outcomes were also reflected in the percentage change of the FIQ, with reductions of 14.17% and 49.4%, and in the VAS, with an average percentage reduction of 2.75%. The findings of this research highlight that the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy as a complementary treatment for individuals with fibromyalgia depends on continuous application and adherence to a protocol tailored to each patient following an individual assessment. In summary, this study enabled a practical analysis of theoretical resources, promoting real-time knowledge construction. The study demonstrates that laser therapy is an effective technological option for treating various conditions, with no reported adverse effects.