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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07145788

The Effect of Physiotherapy Integrated With Yoga and Mindfulness on Individuals With Fibromyalgia

The current study investigates the effect of an integrative physiotherapy and mind-body program called PhYoMind intervention on disability and symptoms in individuals with fibromyalgia (FM). Participants will be randomized to either the PhYoMind intervention, which combines specific physiotherapy techniques with yoga and mindfulness, or to a home exercise control group. The intervention lasts 8 weeks, with supervised and home sessions. The primary outcome is disability, with secondary outcomes including measures of central and autonomic nervous system function, pain perception, stress, fatigue, and sleep quality. Adverse events and adherence of the intervention will be also assessed.

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Key information

Conditions

Fibromyalgia (FM) Agnosia Chronic Pain Fibromyalgia Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perceptual Disorders Rheumatic Diseases Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Bosch Health Campus

Stuttgart, Auerbachstraße 112, 70376, Germany

About this study

FM is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and autonomic/central nervous system dysfunction. Despite its high prevalence, treatment options remain limited and often focus on symptom management rather than addressing underlying dysregulation. Emerging evidence also implicates abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the development and persistence of FM symptoms.

Although physiotherapy and mind-body interventions including yoga and mindfulness have individually shown benefits for fibromyalgia symptoms, there is a lack of research on combined interventions integrating these therapies.

The present randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of PhYoMind, a novel integrative and complementary program combining physiotherapy techniques in particular, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), Nerve Gliding Exercises (NGE), Mobility Exercises (ME), and Post-Isometric Relaxation (PIR), with yoga and mindfulness practices. The intervention aims to improve disability and address multiple symptoms in people with FM through this integrated program.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the PhYoMind program or a home exercises including stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercises over 8 weeks. Two supervised sessions per week will be complemented by prescribed home exercises. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (Week 0) and immediately after post-intervention (Week 8), including disability (primary outcome), as well as pain perception, stress, fatigue, sleep quality, central/autonomic nervous system function. In addition, adverse events and adherence of the intervention will be assessed.

This study will contribute valuable evidence regarding the potential benefits of an integrated physiotherapy and mind-body interventions in managing fibromyalgia symptoms.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Presence of clinically diagnosed fibromyalgia according to the American College of Rheumatology

Exclusion criteria

  • Other serious illnesses causing severe pain and complicating participation in the study
  • Receiving another physiotherapy treatment concurrently with this study
  • Regular practice of yoga and/or mindfulness exercises prior to the study
  • History of acute myocardial infarction or heart failure and resulting cardiac capacity limitations.
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (resting systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥160/100 mmHg)
  • Current treatment with medications known to significantly affect HRV (e.g. beta-blockers or antiarrhythmic drugs)
  • Pregnancy or planned pregnancy during the study period
  • Severe psychiatric disorders or insufficient cognitive abilities resulting in inability to participate in the study
  • Participants must either be on a stable treatment for FMS or not receiving any treatment, with no intention to alter their treatment plan during the study period. (Any unintended changes in fibromyalgia-related medications or other treatments during the study will be recorded and documented).

Treatment and study plan

PhYoMind

Other

This integrative intervention method includes some specific physiotherapy techniques, ( e. g. self proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, self nerve gliding, self mobility, post isometric relaxation techniques) yoga postures, left nostril breathing, humming bee breathing and mindfulness practices. Each session will be 75 minutes and focus on different parts of the body and yoga postures will be selected according to these focused areas. For each week, a specific body area will be chosen as the focus. For example, the first week will focus on the hip area and lower extremities, the second week on the upper body and upper extremities, the third week on the core and anterior line of the body, and the fourth week on the back and posterior line of the body and this sequence will continue through the eighth week. In addition to these sessions, participants in this group will also apply home exercises (aerobic+strenghtening+streching) twice a week, 60 minutes per practice.

Exercise

Other

The control group will receive only home exercises twice a week. Big muscle groups strengthening and stretching exercises and walking planned for the patient will be given as home exercise. The walking exercise will last 30 minutes at a moderately fast pace, depending on the subject's adaptation. The strengthening exercises will last 15 minutes and will consist of 3 sets of 12 repetitions of exercises with body weight and light weights, generally targeting the back extensor muscles, core stabilization muscles, shoulder region muscles in the upper extremity and hip and knee joint muscles in the lower extremity. The stretching exercises will last 15 minutes and will include neck muscles, pectoralis major/minor, erector spina, hamstrings, quadriceps femoris muscles 1-2 times for 30 seconds each. Participants will be taught face to face with a brochure when they come for the first assessment and will be asked to do HE at home.

Primary outcomes

  1. Disability, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)

    Time frame: At baseline (Week 0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (Week 8)

    The FIQ is a valid and reliable questionnaire with a total score range of 0-100 measuring overall disease severity, pain severity, physical functioning, work difficulties, morning fatigue, depression, anxiety, and general well-being rated by individuals with fibromyalgia. Higher scores indicate a greater impact of symptoms.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Central Nervous System Assessment, Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI)

    Time frame: At baseline (Week 0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (Week 8)

    This scale, which has a scoring system ranging from 0 to 100, consists of 25 items with a 5-point Likert type question, each of which is evaluated between 0 and 4 points. A total score of 40 and above is shown as a clinically significant cut-off value.

  2. Autonomic Nervous System Assessment, Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

    Time frame: At baseline (Week 0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (Week 8)

    Changes in the autonomic nervous system will be recorded by measuring heart rate variability. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) will be measured and recorded with a Polar H10 (Polar Electro UK Ltd., Warwick, UK) chest strap using the validated Elite HRV mobile application.

  3. Pain Perception, The Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: At baseline (Week 0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (Week 8)

    The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scale, a widely used and valid and reliable scale, will be used to rate the current, average, worst pain intensity of the participants over the last week.The scale consists of a 10 cm long line, 0 "no pain"; 10 would represent "worst possible pain".

  4. Fatique Assessment, The 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Index (MFI)

    Time frame: At Baseline (Week 0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (Week 8)

    To measure the severity of fatigue in participants with fibromyalgia, the 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Index (MFI), covering various aspects of fatigue (five subscales; general fatigue, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, decreased motivation, decreased activity) will be applied. Higher score indicates more severe fatigue.

  5. Sleep Assessment, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

    Time frame: At baseline (Week 0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (Week 8)

    The questionnaire consists of 19 questions grouped into seven component scores, each with a range of 0-3, including specific sleep-related problems such as average sleep duration, sleep latency, and daytime sleepiness. An overall PSQI score (range 0 to 21) is calculated. Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality.

  6. Stress Assessment, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

    Time frame: At baseline (Week 0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (Week 8)

    This 10-item self-report scale is Likert-type and has a 5-point scoring system ranging from "never" to "very often". Higher scores were associated with higher perceived severity of stress.

Other outcomes

  1. Demographic Data

    Time frame: At Baseline (Week 0)

    Participants' age (years), gender (male/female/other), years with FM diagnosis, medications, marital status, educational level, employment status, pre-existing conditions, previous surgery will be measured.

  2. Adverse Events

    Time frame: At weeks 2, 4, 6, 8

    Adverse events and unwanted effects will be monitored prospectively through predefined items in the exercise diary and reviewed at every second week. Individuals in both group will be asked to send their completed exercise diaries digitally or by post. The conditions of patients experiencing adverse effects will be evaluated and referred to the study physician to initiate the necessary treatment.

  3. Adherence to the intervention

    Time frame: At weeks 2, 4, 6, 8

    Adherence to the intervention will be assessed by documenting the number of sessions they participated in and by using participant exercise diaries, in which daily completion, duration and components of the prescribed exercises are recorded.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital Tuebingen

Other

Collaborators

  • Karl and Veronica Carstens Foundation
  • The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Registry information

Official study title

Physiotherapy-Integrated Yoga and Mindfulness Plus Home Exercise Versus Home Exercise Alone for Individuals With Fibromyalgia (PhYoMind): A Single-Blind, Parallel-Group, Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: PhYoMind

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 28, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 24, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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