Effects of Photobiomodulation in a Population Suffering From Fibromyalgia

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is used by the patient to quantify the pain from 0 (without any pain) to 10 (the worst pain)

The Leisure Time Physical Activity Instrument (LTPAI), used to measure the physical activity. This has four components, each with three levels of activity: light, medium, and vigorous. Scores indicate the number of hours which these activity levels had been carried out each week in the last four weeks summing as the total number of hours of physical activity

Widespread Pain Index (WPI) is a questionnaire which shows appropriate distribution and a sufficient number of body quadrants and axial skeleton pain representation. It is part of the FMS diagnosis.

Symptom Severity Score (SSS) is a questionnaire whichispart of the FMS diagnosis

The revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), a self-administered questionnaire comprising 21 individual questions, with a rating scale of 0-10. The questions compose three different domains: function, overall impact and symptoms score (range 0-30, 0-20 and 0-50, respectively). The FIQR total score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a greater impact of the condition on the person'slife.

Tender points will be assessed using a standard pressure algometer (FPK 20; Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT, USA.): occiput at the suboccipital muscle insertions, low cervical at the anterior aspects of the intertransverse spaces at C5-C7, trapezius at the midpoint of the upper border, supraspinatus at origins, above the scapula spine near the medial border, paraspinous 3 cm lateral to the midline at the level of the mid-scapula, second rib at the second costochondral junctions, just lateral to the junctions on the upper surfaces, lateral pectoral at the level of the fourth rib at the anterior axillary line, lateral epicondylee 2 cm distal to the epicondyles and medial epicondyle at the epicondyles.

Tender points will be assessed using a standard pressure algometer (FPK 20; Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT, USA.): gluteal at the upper outer quadrants of buttocks in anterior fold of muscle, greater trochanter just posterior to the trochanteric prominence, and knees at the medial fat pad proximal to the joint line, forearm at the distal dorsal third of the forearm, thumbnail, and midfoot at the midpoint of the dorsal third metatarsal.

The Autonomic Symptom Profile (ASP) is a validated self-report questionnaire that comprehensively assesses autonomic symptoms across 11 subscales and yields a composite autonomic symptom score, where higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome. Autonomic nervous system activity provides quantitative information regarding cardiac autonomic tone.

Quantified elastography in tender points. Changes in the status of myofascial trigger-points can be demonstrated with an objective and reproducible USE measure

Assessment of the mechanisms by which catastrophizing impacts on pain experience. Higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome.

Assessment of the fear of movement through the validated Tampa-Scale questionnaire.

Higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome.

The Self Efficacy Questionnaire assesses personal confidence to carry out an activity with the aim of successfully achieving a desired outcome.

Higher scores mean a better outcome and lower scores mean a worst outcome.