Fibromyalgia syndrome treated with the structural integration Rolfing ® method

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rolfing method is a procedure to integrate human body structure, which considers people’s physical and emotional aspects. It consists in 10 deep manual interventions (myofascial release) applied to the elastic structure of the loose connective tissue (myofascial) and in reeducation of movements. This study aimed at checking the effectiveness of the method to treat fibromyalgia patients in relieving pain and states of anxiety and depression. METHODS: Participated in the study thirty patients of the Pain Center, Neurological Clinic, Clinicas Hospital, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, who were submitted to 10 Rolfing sessions and have maintained their routine outpatient treatment. All patients were evaluated by the pain verbal numeric analog scale and by Beck’s Depression and Anxiety Inventory, applied during initial interview, in the last session and three months after treatment completion. RESULTS: Treatment was effective and has shown statistically significant difference in evaluated items. CONCLUSION: Patients’ improvement was correlated to Rolfing method intervention.