Objective: To systematically investigate the scientific evidence relating to electrothermal and phototherapeutic methods for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods: The search for reports on interventions using electrothermal and phototherapy for FMS was carried out in the Pubmed, Medline, Lilacs, Scielo, ISI Web of Knowledge, PEDro and Cochrane Collaboration databases. Randomized controlled clinical trials published over the past 10 years in English, Portuguese and Spanish were selected. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the jadad scale. The analysis on the study results was done by means of critical review of the content. Results: Seven studies were reviewed in full, and these identified interventions using laser (n=4), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS; n=1), interferential current (IFC) alone (n=1) and IFC combined with ultrasound (US; n=1). Only two studies showed good methodological quality according to the jadad scale. Most of the studies (n=6) Key words: fibromyalgia; physical therapy methods; electrotherapy; phototherapy. ResumoObjetivo: Sistematizar as evidências científicas sobre os recursos eletrotermofototerapêuticos na síndrome da fibromialgia (SFM).Métodos: A busca de publicações sobre as intervenções por eletrotermofototerapia na SFM foi realizada nas bases de dados Pubmed, Medline, Lilacs, Scielo, ISI Web of Knowledge, PEDro e Colaboração Cochrane. Foram selecionados ensaios clínicos aleatórios e controlados dos últimos dez anos em língua inglesa, portuguesa e espanhola. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos foi avaliada pela Escala de jadad, e a análise dos resultados, por meio de revisão crítica dos conteúdos. Resultados: Sete estudos foram revisados na íntegra, sendo identificadas intervenções com laser (n=4), estimulação elétrica transcutânea (TENS) (n=1), corrente interferencial vetorial (CIV) isolada (n=1) e CIV combinada com o ultrassom (n=1). Apenas dois estudos obtiveram boa qualidade metodológica pela Escala de jadad. A maioria dos estudos (n=6) utilizou os critérios do American College of Rheumatology para o diagnóstico clínico da SFM. A dor foi o sintoma da SFM mais avaliado pelos estudos. O método e o tempo das intervenções variaram amplamente, além da falta de menção de parâmetros na utilização dos recursos eletrotermofototerapêuticos. Houve melhora significativa em todos os estudos quanto à dor. Conclusão: Generalizações dos resultados, reações adversas e doses de tratamento da SFM com eletrotermofototerapia ainda são restritas. Novos estudos são necessários para se estabelecer a efetividade da eletrotermofototerapia na SFM.

The aim of study was to evaluate the progression of the ankle articular cartilage alterations after a post-immobilization muscle stretching. Twenty-nine Wistar rats were separated into five groups: C--control, S--stretched, SR--stretch recovery, IS--immobilized and stretched, and ISR--immobilized stretched recovery. The immobilization was maintained for 4 weeks and the left ankle was then stretched manually through a full dorsal flexion for 10 times for 60 s with a 30 s interval between each 60 s period, 7 days/week for 3 weeks. The recovery period was of 7 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the left ankles were removed, processed in paraffin, and stained in hematoxylin-eosin and safranin O. Two blinded observers evaluated the articular cartilage using the Mankin grading system (cellularity, chondrocyte cloning, and proteoglycan content) through light microscopy, and performed the morphometry (cellularity, total thickness, non-calcified thickness, and calcified thickness measures). Both the Mankin grading system and the morphometric analysis showed that the ISR group presented the most increased cellularity among the groups. The IS and SR groups showed the highest proteoglycan loss, and the ISR group showed the same content of proteoglycan observed in the C group. No significant differences were found in the chondrocyte cloning, the total cartilage thickness, the non-calcified cartilage thickness, and the calcified cartilage thickness among the groups. The results suggest that the cartilage can recover the proteoglycan loss caused by immobilization and stretching, probably because of the increased chondrocyte density. Therefore, the ankle articular cartilage responded as to repair the metabolic deficits.

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Horner's syndrome is a condition that results from sympathetic nervous system dysfunction. Labor epidural analgesia is known to be a rare cause of Horner's Syndrome. However, in the obstetric population, the incidence of Horner's Syndrome is higher than in the rest of the population as it is a consequence of high cephalad spread of local anesthetic (LA) probably enhanced by the anatmophysiologic changes of pregnancy. We present a case of unilateral Horner's syndrome as a complication of epidural analgesia with accompanying upper limb paresthesia and motor weakness, a rarely encountered symptom.

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