Adaptations from a telehealth stretching exercise program on painful conditions, depression, sleep and functionality of women with fibromyalgia during the Covid-19 pandemic: a randomized clinical trial
NCT ID NCT04690400
First seen Sep 10, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026
Summary
This study is a randomized, single-blinded, parallel, superiority, controlled trial. The main objective is to verify the effects of a telehealth stretching exercise program on pain, depression, sleep parameters and functionality of women with fibromyalgia, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Participants will be women with primary fibromyalgia, seen at public and private health services, in the region south of Brazil. Participants will be recruited through social networks, newspapers and support from the National Association of Fibromyalgia and Correlated Diseases (Anfibro). Eligible participants will be randomized, stratified by age (30 to 45; 46 to 60), and allocated to one of the two groups, experimental or control. The experimental group will receive a telehealth stretching exercise program twice a week (guided by a professional) and counseling guide to stretching exercises with explanatory video regarding the execution of the protocol proposed by the guide. The total duration of exercise program will be 40 minutes (will be 12 exercise, 3 sets of each stretching for 10 seconds, carried out individually by a video call application - WhatsApp). The control group will receive only counseling guide to stretching exercises with explanatory video regarding the execution of the protocol. Both interventions will last 12 weeks, with outcomes evaluations in three moments: baseline (week 0), midpoint (week 6) and after the intervention (week 13). The following outcomes will be evaluated: generalized index of pain, fatigue and severity of symptoms, depression, level of physical activity, functionality, quality of life and sleep. All outcomes will be evaluated by questionnaires self-completed, that will be answered on Google Docs by video call, with exception of functional test that will be applied by video call. The study's hypothesis consists of improving outcomes for both groups, but with superiority for the experimental group.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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28 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Finished
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Jan 2022
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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30 to 60 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Women between 30 and 60 years of age; * Diagnosis of fibromyalgia (according medical confirmation) at least three months before eligibility; * Inactive for at least three months; * Inability or unwillingness to give informed consent for participation and to complete the questionnaires; * Consent to participate in the study regardless of the allocation group. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of another associated rheumatic pathology (secondary fibromyalgia); * Uncontrolled systemic disease; * Being under physiotherapeutic treatment; * Lack of internet access.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Escola Superior de Educação Física
Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, 96055-630, Brazil
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