Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by generalized musculoskeletal pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia, commonly associated with other symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep quality, anxiety and depression. The clinical manifestations of this rheumatic disease have significant psychosocial and economic repercussions, with a substantial impact on health status, quality of life and social activities. Currently, recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia include patient education and non-pharmacological interventions, and among the indicated treatments, clinical guidelines include several physiotherapeutic resources, essential for individuals affected by this syndrome. Research in the physiotherapy field has demonstrated its effectiveness, but there is a need to update the literature. This study aims to identify the effectiveness of physiotherapy in the treatment of individuals with fibromyalgia. We performed a literature review looking for articles dated from March 2012 to March 2022 using the terms “fibromyalgia”, “physiotherapy”, “physical therapy”, “rehabilitation” in different languages in various databases and their main information was read and collected and presented in a descriptive way. The effects of physiotherapy interventions are summarized in order to provide a reference for future research and clinical application. Research on non-pharmacological physiotherapy-oriented treatments has grown in recent years as an alternative for fibromyalgia treatment. This review allows fibromyalgia patients to receive appropriate physical therapy interventions to promote their health.

Background: Educational practices are indicated to promote the health of people with fibromyalgia in primary health care. We aimed to develop an educative interdisciplinary program intended at the health promotion of individuals with fibromyalgia. Methods: It is a study protocol that was developed following three phases in the city of São Paulo city, Brazil. Qualitative research was carried out, through a focal group, with 12 individuals with fibromyalgia and 10 health professionals. A thematic content analysis was made according to the content proposed by Bardin. Results: Fibro Friends is an interdisciplinary program with educational approaches that must be performed in 15 meetings, once a week for 1 h and 20 min. Participants were the following professionals: a Physiotherapist, a Doctor, a Psychologist, a Nutritionist, a Nurse, a Pharmacist/Druggist, a Speech Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Naturopath, and a Social Worker. A physical exercise program will also be carried out. The professionals must discuss in a lecture, conversation hearing, and/or group dynamic, about strategies to promote health and pain control in fibromyalgia. Conclusion: Fibro Friends is a program presenting educational interdisciplinary information to individuals with fibromyalgia, being considered a trend to future care. Fibro Friends is a practical guide, logical, and efficient to patients with fibromyalgia at the basic attention to health.

Fibromyalgia has been increasing worldwide and is considered a public health problem. Nonpharmacological treatment through exercise and education is recommended for fibromyalgia management. In this sense, there is a need for interdisciplinary programs to promote health and improve symptoms in fibromyalgia. The purpose of this study was to verify the effectiveness of interdisciplinary health education programs for individuals with fibromyalgia. This is a systematic review that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations and was registered at Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD4201913228). A search was conducted in the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online, Lilacs, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Web of Knowledge ISI, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus. The descriptors used were “Fibromyalgia” and “Health Education.” Clinical trials published between 1990 and 2019 were selected. The Jadad Quality Scale and the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool were used to evaluate the risk of bias and the methodological quality of the clinical trials. The search found 2887 articles, and only two studies were included in the analysis. Both studies conducted the interventions through lectures and group activities. In particular, the topics most frequently approached at the interdisciplinary health education programs were general information about fibromyalgia, body practices, physical activities, and pharmacological approaches. An interdisciplinary health education program can improve pain and quality of life in people with fibromyalgia; however, evidence shows low methodological quality. This systematic review indicates that studies are of low quality, interfering with the effectiveness of interdisciplinary health education programs.

Health education is one of the main items to enable the promotion of health for individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to validate a multidisciplinary educational health promotion program called Amigos de Fibro (Fibro Friends) for individuals with FM. Methodological research involving 23 health professionals (expert judges) and 45 individuals with FM (target audience) used an instrument to assess the objectives, proposed themes and initiatives, relevance, writing style, and structure of the program through the Delphi technique. The content validity index (CVI) ≥ 0.78 and coefficient kappa ≥ 0.61 were used for data analysis. All 25 items evaluated in both groups presented considerable minimum CVI by CVI and the kappa coefficient. In the global evaluation of Amigos de Fibro, the CVI of the specialist judges was 0.90, while the values of the target audience judges were 0.95. The kappa coefficient of the expert judges was 0.90 and that of the target audience judges was 0.85. Amigos de Fibro, a light technology in health, was considered with adequate content validity and internal consistency and is, therefore, valid in the use by health professionals with the target audience in PHC, making it possible for them to act as health-promoting agents.

Objective: to verify the effects of Senior Dance on cognitive and motor parameters and quality of life of elderly people. Methods: pre-experimental study with pre- and post-test for a group with a convenience sample composed of 20 elderly of both genders. Participants were evaluated through the agility test, the balance scale and inventories of depression and anxiety, and a questionnaire on quality of life. Elderly people participated in a physical activity program featured as Senior Dance for a period of three months. Results: the intervention resulted in improved scores in most of the variables, with significant results only for anxiety classified as temporary emotional state. Conclusion: Senior Dance was effective as physical exercise to improve the quality of life, as well as the physical and mental health of the elderly.

Background: Health education is one of the main items to enable health promotion to patients with fibromyalgia. The objective of the study “Amigos de Fibro (Fibro Friends)” is to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention associated with physical exercise based on the web in promoting health and quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia in Brazil. Methods: A study with a randomized controlled trial approach will be carried out. The sample will consist of 24 participants, divided into two groups, with 12 individuals each. The experimental group will participate in meetings with lectures, debates, conversation rounds and exercises by a multidisciplinary team. Physical exercises will also be performed in an online environment. On the other hand, the control group will receive an e-book of education and self-care. Primary outcomes will be quality of life. The secondary outcomes will be sociodemographic and health profile, pain intensity, sleep quality, self-care agency, usage and costs of health and social care services, viability of the program and program participation. In addition, a qualitative evaluation process will be carried out with the participants. After the intervention, the data of both groups will be collected again, as well as after 3, 6, and 12 months to verify the effect and the maintenance of the intervention. Discussion: The results will provide data for studies to consider the use of this tool in the future by professionals working in the field of rheumatology. Trial registration: The protocol was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-3rh759 (https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=RBR-3rh759). Date of registration: 07/02/2020].