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Fibromyalgia (FM) has an inflammatory component, as elevated serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers are associated with its diagnosis. Treatments decreased pain, body temperature, improved quality of life and reduced serum levels of IL-6 in both groups; however, these beneficial effects were more pronounced in aquatic exercise (AE) + Far-Infrared (FIR) group. The findings of the present study suggest that the association of AE to FIR increases the benefits of aquatic exercise in patients with FM., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder that involves abnormal inflammation and nerve dysfunction frequently resistant to a broad range of treatments. Peripheral nerve stimulation with electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used in different clinical conditions to control pain and inflammation; however, the use of EA in the treatment of CRPS is under investigation. In this study, we explore the effects of EA on hyperalgesia and edema induced in an animal model of chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP model) and the possible involvement of endothelin receptor type B (ET B ) in this effect. Female Swiss mice were subjected to 3 h hind paw ischemia/reperfusion CPIP model. EA treatment produced time-dependent inhibition of mechanical and cold hyperalgesia, as well as edema in CPIP mice. Peripheral administration (i.pl.) of BQ-788 (10 nmol), an ET B antagonist, prevented EA-induced antihyperalgesia while intrathecal administration prolonged EA's effect. Additionally, peripheral pre-treatment with sarafotoxin (SRTX S6c, 30 pmol, ET B agonist) increased EA anti-hyperalgesic effect. Furthermore, the expression of peripheral ET B receptors was increased after EA treatments, as measured by western blot. These results may suggest that EA's analgesic effect is synergic with ET B receptor activation in the periphery, as well as central (spinal cord) ET B receptor blockade. These data support the use of EA as a nonpharmacological approach for the management of CRPS-I, in an adjuvant manner to ET B receptor targeting drugs.

This study evaluated the effects of continuous and interval running on a treadmill on mechanical hyperalgesia in an animal model of chronic postischemia pain and analyzed the mechanism of action of this effect. Different groups of male Swiss mice with chronic postischemia pain, induced by 3 hours of paw ischemia followed by reperfusion, ran on the treadmill in different protocols-the speed (10, 13, 16, or 19 m/min), duration (15, 30, or 60 minutes), weekly frequency (3 or 5 times), weekly increase in continuous and interval running speed-were tested. Mechanical hyperalgesia was evaluated by von Frey filament 7, 14, and 21 days after paw ischemia followed by reperfusion. On day 11 after paw ischemia followed by reperfusion and after 5 days of continuous and interval running, concentrations of cytokines, oxidative stress parameters, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and AKT 1/2/3 expression in the spinal cord were measured. The results showed that continuous running has an antihyperalgesic effect that depends on intensity and volume. Interval running has a longer-lasting antihyperalgesic effect than continuous running. The antihyperalgesic effect depends on intensity and volume in continuous running, and increasing speed maintains the antihyperalgesic effect in both protocols. In the spinal cord, both runs decreased tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels and increased interleukin-10. Both running protocols reduced oxidative damage in the spinal cord. Only interval running had lower concentrations of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in the spinal cord. Interval running presented a great antihyperalgesic potential with more promising results than continuous running, which may be owing to the fact that the interval running can activate different mechanisms from those activated by continuous running. PERSPECTIVE: A minimum of .5-hour sessions of moderate to high intensity ≥3 times a week are essential parameters for continuous and interval running-induced analgesia. However, interval running was shown to be more effective than continuous running and can be an important adjuvant treatment to chronic pain., (Copyright © 2018 the American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The original version of this article contains an error. The Author Francisco José Cidral-Filho incorrectly listed as Francisco José Cidra-Filho. The correct spelling is presented above. The original article has been corrected.

Although training programs with regular eccentric (ECC) exercise are more commonly used for improving muscular strength and mobility, ECC exercise effects upon functional recovery of the sciatic nerve has not yet been determined. After sciatic nerve crush, different mice groups were subjected to run on the treadmill for 30 min at a speed of 6, 10, or 14 m/min with - 16° slope, 5 days per week, over 8 weeks. During the training time, neuropathic pain-like behavior (mechanical and cold hyperalgesia) was assessed and functional recovery was determined with the grip strength test and the Sciatic Functional and Static indexes (SFI and SSI). After 9 weeks, triceps surae muscle weight and morphological alterations were assessed. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-1Ra (IL-1Ra), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels, and markers pro- and anti-inflammatory and regeneration, respectively, were quantified in the muscle and sciatic nerve on day 14 post-crushing. Exercised groups presented less neuropathic pain-like behavior and better functional recovery than non-exercised groups. Biochemically, ECC exercise reduced TNF-α increase in the muscle. ECC exercise increased sciatic nerve IGF-1 levels in sciatic nerve crush-subjected animals. These findings provide new evidence indicating that treatment with ECC might be a potential approach for neuropathy induced by peripheral nerve injury.

Introduction: This study evaluated the effects of foot reflexotherapy on pain and postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain., Design: Randomized, controlled pilot study. Participants ( n = 20) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: individuals submitted to conventional foot massage (control group) or foot reflexotherapy (RT, intervention group) for a period of 5 weeks. Questionnaires on pain and disability (visual analogue scale [VAS] and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]), heart rate variability, and orthostatic balance and baropodometric analysis were assessed at two intervals: before and after intervention., Results: RT group showed statistically significant differences when compared to control group in the following parameters: decrease in VAS scores for pain throughout the study, decrease in parasympathetic activity, and improvement in RMDQ scores. The two groups did not statistically differ in either orthostatic balance or baropodometric analyses., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that foot reflexotherapy induced analgesia but did not affect postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain.