Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
08:33
A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers
Published on: January 5, 2024
Central motor control failure in fibromyalgia: a surface electromyography study
Roberto Casale1, Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini, Fabiola Atzeni
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and Pain Rehabilitation Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Montescano, Montescano (PV), Italy. roberto.casale@fsm.it
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
|July 3, 2009
Summary
Fibromyalgia patients exhibit altered muscle recruitment patterns and reduced signs of fatigue during voluntary contractions, suggesting central motor control issues rather than peripheral muscle problems.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Physiology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition characterized by widespread pain, stiffness, and fatigue.
- The origin of myoelectrical fatigue manifestations in FM patients remains unclear, with potential central or peripheral causes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the myoelectrical signs of fatigue in fibromyalgia patients are of central or peripheral origin.
- To compare muscle fatigue responses between female FM patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Surface electromyography (s-EMG) with a 16-electrode array on the biceps brachii muscle.
- Evoked muscle fatigue through voluntary and electrically elicited contractions.
- Analysis of maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs), motor unit action potential conduction velocity, and mean power frequency (MNF).
Main Results:
- Fibromyalgia patients showed altered motor recruitment patterns during voluntary contractions.
- FM patients exhibited fewer myoelectrical manifestations of fatigue compared to controls.
- No significant differences in fatigue measures were observed between groups during electrically elicited contractions.
Conclusions:
- Reduced myoelectrical fatigue in FM likely reflects muscle remodeling favoring slow-twitch, fatigue-resistant fibers.
- Differences observed primarily in voluntary contractions suggest central motor control dysfunction over peripheral muscle membrane alterations.
- Findings indicate pathological muscle fiber remodeling possibly linked to altered suprasegmental control in fibromyalgia.
