Do patients with fibromyalgia have body image and tactile acuity distortion?

The aims of this study were twofold: (1) to compare the body image and tactile acuity of patients with fibromyalgia and asymptomatic participants, and (2) to investigate the effects of an 8-week exercise-based intervention (aerobic or Pilates exercises) on the body image, tactile acuity, and pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia.

A cross-sectional study and a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial were carried out, which assessed the following outcomes in 24 patients with fibromyalgia and 24 asymptomatic participants: subjective body image (Drawing Test), tactile acuity (Two-Point Discrimination Test), limb circumference (Cirtometry), and pain (Pain Numerical Rating Scale). After the assessment, the 24 patients with fibromyalgia were randomly allocated to one of the intervention groups: aerobic or Pilates.

There was no significant difference in the tactile acuity of the cervical, lumbar, hands, and feet regions between the participants with fibromyalgia and the asymptomatic participants (p > 0.05). However, patients with fibromyalgia showed changes in subjective body image when the drawings were compared to the cirtometry measurements. After the intervention, there was no significant difference between aerobic exercise and Pilates for pain and tactile acuity in the cervical, lumbar, hands, and feet regions of patients with fibromyalgia (p > 0.05).

Patients with fibromyalgia presented altered perception in subjective body image but not on tactile acuity, when compared to asymptomatic participants. In addition, there was no difference between aerobic exercise and Pilates for pain and tactile acuity in these patients.