Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27014012›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in human neuroscience2016

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Aerobic Exercise to Optimize Analgesic Responses in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Mariana E Mendonca, Marcel Simis, Luanda C Grecco, Linamara R Battistella, Abrahão F Baptista, Felipe Fregni

3 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readCase Reports
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 87 papers, 19 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
87citing papers in PubMed, 19 pooled it
8.2field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT02859467 nasuspendednot on this map

Benefits of Kinesio Taping and Inhibitory Treatment Techniques in Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad de AlmeriaRan2016 to 2024Enrolled64ConditionsFibromyalgiaArmsKinesio Taping and Inhibitory Treatment Techniques, Exercise and Electrical Stimulation Therapy
NCT07239427 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) in an Active Pain Coping Program for Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Control Trial.

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of ValladolidRan2025 to 2026Enrolled68ConditionsFibromyalgiaArmsPain Science Education, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Therapeutic Exercise, Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
NCT07323199 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Women With Fibromyalgia - Effects on Clinical and Neuro-physiological Variables: Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad Nacional Andres BelloRan2026 to 2027Enrolled40ConditionsFibromyalgia (FM)ArmsEXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION, Neuromodulators
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

87 citing papers in PubMed, 19 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 169 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Are OMERACT recommendations followed in clinical trials on fibromyalgia? A systematic review of patient-reported outcomes and their measures.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2023
    Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Pooled it
  11. Pooled it
  12. Pooled it
  13. Pooled it
  14. Pooled it
  15. Pooled it
  16. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for chronic pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018
    Pooled it
  17. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for chronic pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018
    Pooled it
  18. Whole body vibration exercise training for fibromyalgia.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017
    Pooled it
  19. Aerobic exercise training for adults with fibromyalgia.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017
    Pooled it
  20. Trial

27 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Mariana E MendoncaDepartment of Neuroscience and Behavior, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcel SimisPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of São Paulo, Medical School General Hospital São Paulo, Brazil.
Luanda C GreccoPediatric Neurosurgical Center - Rehabilitation (CENEPE)São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MA, USA.
Linamara R BattistellaPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of São Paulo, Medical School General Hospital São Paulo, Brazil.
Abrahão F BaptistaLaboratory of Functional Electrostimulation, Department of Biomorphology, Federal University of Bahia Bahia, Brazil.
Felipe FregniDepartment of Neuroscience and Behavior, Institute of Psychology, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MA, USA.
Universidade de São Paulo · BRMassachusetts General Hospital · USSpaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · USUniversidade Federal da Bahia · BR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

unlabelledFibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that is associated with maladaptive plasticity in neural central circuits. One of the neural circuits that are involved in pain in fibromyalgia is the primary motor cortex. We tested a combination intervention that aimed to modulate the motor system: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) and aerobic exercise (AE). In this phase II, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial, 45 subjects were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: tDCS + AE, AE only, and tDCS only. The following outcomes were assessed: intensity of pain, level of anxiety, quality of life, mood, pressure pain threshold, and cortical plasticity, as indexed by transcranial magnetic stimulation. There was a significant effect for the group-time interaction for intensity of pain, demonstrating that tDCS/AE was superior to AE [F (13, 364) = 2.25, p = 0.007] and tDCS [F (13, 364) = 2.33, p = 0.0056] alone. Post-hoc adjusted analysis showed a difference between tDCS/AE and tDCS group after the first week of stimulation and after 1 month intervention period (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). Further, after treatment there was a significant difference between groups in anxiety and mood levels. The combination treatment effected the greatest response. The three groups had no differences regarding responses in motor cortex plasticity, as assessed by TMS. The combination of tDCS with aerobic exercise is superior compared with each individual intervention (cohen's d effect sizes > 0.55). The combination intervention had a significant effect on pain, anxiety and mood. Based on the similar effects on cortical plasticity outcomes, the combination intervention might have affected other neural circuits, such as those that control the affective-emotional aspects of pain.

trial registration(www.ClinicalTrials.gov), identifier NTC02358902.

Indexed as

aerobic exercisecombined therapyfibromyalgiamotor cortextranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Identifiers

PMID27014012
PMCPMC4785149
OpenAlexW2323113343

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.