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IntroductIon: Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects up to 5% of the population and causes significant deterioration of the quality of life for the sufferer, so it is a therapeutic challenge. The objective of the present study was to describe the experience of the AtlasPROfilax® method in patients with fibromyalgia diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Reumatology (ACR) 2010.Methodology: A cross -sectional study with 63 patients with fibromyalgia was done. Patients were monitored two and six months after applying the AtlasPROfilax® method, in order to evaluate the pain level by visual analogue scale VAS and reevaluate ACR criteria in the follow-up appointment.results: The average age of patients was 48.5 SD 12.6 years, 95.24% were female. 100% of patients improved pain (initial VAS of 8 vs 4 and 3 after two and six months respectively) and these were significant results. A reduction of widespread pain index as well as a reduction in the presence of symptoms such as fatigue, non-restorative sleep and cognitive disorders that are typical of fibromyalgia were also found in 46% of cases conclusIon: This study has provided evidence of the effectiveness of the neuromuscular stimulation method of the suboccipital musculature called AtlasPROfilax® in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Randomized and controlled studies are required to demonstrate the medium and long term effectiveness of this therapeutic alternative.

Patient: Male, 42-year-old Final Diagnosis: The disc extrusion at L4–L5 was totally resorbed and improvement in the L3–L4 and L4–L5 disc bulges Symptoms: Bilateral trapezius pain • right brachialgia • constant chronic lumbalgia • right sciatica • gait claudication • paresthesia and dysesthesias in the lower limbs with associated pain and numbness in the calves Medication: — Clinical Procedure: AtlasProfilax Specialty: Rehabilitation Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: The intervertebral disc extrusion resorption has been described in the literature by various authors. It occurs in up to 75% of patients with symptomatic extruded lumbar discs. The Atlasprofilax method favors osteo-musculo-articular rehabilitation processes, mainly impacting on 2 levels: the first is the bone anatomy of the atlanto-occipital joint, and the second is the fasciae located in the cervical region. Case Report: A 42-year-old male patient diagnosed by MRI with dehydration of L2–L3 to L5–S1 intervertebral discs, disc bulging at L2–L3 and L3–L4, and disc extrusion at L4–L5, received a one-time neuromuscular treatment, called the Atlasprofilax method, to the suboccipital region. In a repeat MRI 6 months later, the disc extrusion at L4–L5 was totally resorbed and improvement in the L3–L4 and L4–L5 disc bulges was seen. The patient’s symptoms prior to the Atlasprofilax treatment included bilateral trapezius pain, right brachialgia, constant chronic low back pain, right sciatica, gait claudication, and paresthesia and dysesthesias in the lower limbs with associated pain and numbness in the calves. These symptoms were ameliorated after the treatment. The sciatica disappeared 1 week after the treatment and did not recur. In a follow-up 5 years later, the remaining symptoms had improved even further. Conclusions: We propose that alterations of the cervical musculature and deep fascia could predispose to the development of lumbar disc abnormalities. We therefore also propose that improvements in this patient, both in symptoms and in imaging findings, are due to a reduction of the asymmetric distribution of forces and elastic loading as a result of the Atlasprofilax treatment.

We present the case of 4 subjects exhibiting asymmetry of the lateral atlantodental interval (within the accepted standard ranges of normal asymmetry) on open mouth x-ray examination. The asymmetry was clearly ameliorated after the Atlasprofilax procedure. Improvements in atlas tilt and axis spinous process deviation also were demonstrated. We discuss the preliminary validity of the Atlasprofilax non-invasive approach for treating such conditions and whether the debate on commonly accepted asymmetry in the lateral atlantodental interval should remain open and be further investigated. We further ask if such a lateral atlantodental interval asymmetry could probably be a pre-manifestation or subclinical pathomechanic condition that could underly some clinical conditions. Asymmetry in lateral atlantodental interval or odontoid-lateral mass interspaces through x-ray examination often has been found in healthy and unhealthy subjects and is associated with atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation. Its clinical relevance remains a controversial subject. Some authors affirm that this asymmetry is a normal variant. Other authors point out that such asymmetry could be considered a manifestation of pathological rotatory conditions of atlas and axis consistent with atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation and possibly lead to musculoskeletal disorders and related chronic pain ailments. X-rays provide information only on bony structures and do not visualize soft tissue structures such as suboccipital muscles and fascia. Therefore, open mouth x-rays alone may not be sufficient to determine a radiological pathological condition specially one that is not yet presenting clinical symptoms because soft tissue alterations in this region are not visualized on x-ray. Several x-ray protocols and studies have been performed on this craniocervical segment with different results and interpretations. In this case series, we examine changes in the asymmetry of the lateral atlantodental interval, atlas vertebra tilt and axis spinous process deviation before and after application of the Atlasprofilax method in four patients. This method focuses on mechanotransduction through vibropressure on soft structures of the craniocervical joint, targeting deep cervical fascia, suboccipital muscles and cartilage. The aim is to restore normal structural and metabolic patterns in the extracellular matrix. This also would imply changes in chondrocytes, telocytes, and fibroblasts through a piezoresistive effect. This effect could lead to amelioration of connective tissue alterations in the craniocervical junction involving collagen synthesis, hyaluronic acid and abnormal patterns in fibroblasts and in the microvacuolar fascia. These changes ultimately could result in an improvement in the lateral atlantodental interval and craniocervical joint position.

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