L’effet de la neurostimulation périphérique sur la douleur induite par l’exercice chez les femmes vivants avec la fibromyalgie

Background: Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain and movement-evoked pain (MEP). While resistance training benefits fibromyalgia patients, early pain flare-ups (i.e. MEP) can hinder adherence. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a safe, non-pharmacological technic that provides pain relief, but its effects on MEP following resistance exercise session remain unknown. Objective: Investigate the acute and short-term (up to 24-h) effect of conventional TENS during a lowerbody resistance training session on short-term pain intensity and unpleasantness in women with fibromyalgia. Methods: Women with fibromyalgia (N=21) performed two sets of 10 reps at the leg press at 60% predicted 1-RM while receiving active TENS (100 Hz, 60 µs; strong, non-painful paresthesia) or sham stimulation. Whole-body and lower-body pain intensity and unpleasantness (0–10 NRS) were measured at baseline, immediately post-exercise, 15 minutes post-exercise, end-of-day, and 24 h post exercise. Results: Compared with sham, active TENS showed a suggestive reduction in whole-body pain intensity and unpleasantness (all p ≤ 0.01) immediately post-exercise, and a significant reduction in pain intensity 15 minutes post-exercise (p <0.005). Fifteen minutes after exercise, 90% of active TENS participants achieved ≥15% reduction in pain intensity vs. 0% in sham. No group differences were seen at end-of-day or 24 h, suggesting that the effect of TENS Is of short duration. Conclusion: These results reveal that a single session of conventional TENS during resistance exercise can produce meaningful short-term reductions in MEP in women with FM. While effects did not persist at 24 h, TENS may help mitigate acute exercise-related pain and support early exercise program adherence.

Name thesis:degree_name

M. Sc.

Level thesis:degree_level

Maîtrise

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sciences de l'activité physique

Grantor dc:publisher

Université de Sherbrooke

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Ruel, Mathil

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Dionne, Isabelle
• Léonard, Guillaume

• Fibromyalgie
• Douleur induite par le mouvement
• TENS
• Entrainement contre résistance
• Femmes
• Fibromyalgia
• Movement-evoked pain
• Resistance exercise
• Women

Language dc:language.iso

fr, en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.71892/11143/1235

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:usherbrooke.scholaris.ca:11143/23645