Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that leads to chronic pain and a decrease in overall health. Since the sensation of pain can be modulated by brain function, a pair of scientists in Spain studied the effectiveness of neurofeedback on reducing the perception of pain in fibromyalgia patients. They studied 37 female patients, applying pre- and post-testing in conjunction with treatment using neurofeedback therapy.
Research into fibromyalgia reveals that parts of the brain responsible for sensing pain show greater connectivity in patients with the syndrome, while parts of the brain responsible for inhibiting pain demonstrate lesser connectivity. The scientists conducting the neurofeedback research believed that by means of the therapy they could alter the brain’s electrical signals to provide relief from fibromyalgia symptoms. Treatment took place over twenty sessions.
By comparing pre-treatment assessments with post-treatment assessments, and also looking at brain wave data, the therapists concluded that neurofeedback created “a significant improvement in pain perception and an impact on fibromyalgia symptoms.” They then pointed to evidence that the treatment improved the brain’s ability to autoregulate the perception of pain, and also reduced the effects of anxiety and depression, conditions that are often seen alongside fibromyalgia.
If you would like to consider neurofeedback therapy for fibromyalgia, speak with one of our therapists during a free initial consultation. Contact the Brain Health Clinic online or by phone. Make life brilliant despite fibromyalgia with help from the Brain Health Clinic!