To investigate the effects of tDCS associated with functional exercise on pain, functional performance, psychological symptoms, and quality of life of fibromyalgia (FM) patients.
Randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized by blocks into two groups: tDCS associated with functional exercise (n=17) and sham-tDCS associated with functional exercise (n=14).
Laboratory of Neuromuscular Performance in the Department of Physical Therapy.
Thirty-one women with FM according to American College of Rheumatology-2010 criteria.
Anodal tDCS or sham-tDCS was applied over the left motor cortex in five consecutive days during the first week of intervention (2 mA; 20 min). All volunteers also engaged in eight weeks of functional exercises three times per week.
Pain intensity, functional performance, psychological symptoms, and quality of life were assessed pre-exercise and immediately after the first, fourth, and eighth weeks of intervention.
Pain intensity, functional performance, psychological symptoms, and quality of life increased significantly in both groups (p0.05).
tDCS associated with functional exercises did not enhance the effects of physical exercise on pain, functional performance, psychological symptoms, and quality of life of FM patients.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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