Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation For Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Vagus nerve stimulation is carried out with a TENS device, which has specially designed surface electrodes in the shape of earphones, the size of which can be selected according to ear size. Electrodes were placed to correspond with the inner and rear surfaces of the tragus and the concha for both ears (Figure 1). The application is carried out, for 30 minutes, using a biphasic, asymmetrical waveform with a pulse duration that is less than 500 microseconds and a frequency of 10 Hertz.

The exercise group was assigned a program, which consisted of strengthening, stretching, isometric and posture exercises, targeting the body and upper and lower extremities. That program was home-based and the program was requested to be completed. Patients were asked to attend weekly face to face sessions with a total of 4 of these sessions in the study duration.