Comparative Efficacy of Neuromodulation and Structured Exercise Program on Autonomic Modulation in Fibromyalgia Patients: Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder marked by widespread muscle and joint pain, persistent fatigue, sleep disturbances, and irregularities in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Methods: This study compared the effectiveness of neuromodulation using the EXOPULSE Mollii suit with a structured exercise program in regulating ANS function in fibromyalgia patients. In this randomized, longitudinal crossover study, 10 female patients were randomly assigned to either the Suit + Exercise group or the Exercise + Suit group. Each group participated in two sessions per week for eight weeks, followed by a two-week washout period before switching to the other intervention. We measured cortical arousal, microcirculation, and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after the 1st, 8th, and 16th sessions. Results: The results showed significant improvements in cortical arousal, HRV, and microcirculation with the neuromodulation treatment whereas the exercise program only produced short-term improvements in cortical arousal. Conclusion: The EXOPULSE Mollii suit exhibited cumulative benefits on ANS modulation over time, suggesting potential long-term advantages for managing fibromyalgia. However, further research is needed to explore the delayed effects of both treatments on ANS modulation.

Keywords

• fibromyalgia
• neuromodulation therapy
• exercise
• autonomic modulation
• heart rate variability
• cortical arousal