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Noninvasive Intracranial Compliance Monitoring Following Hand‐Applied Photobiomodulation and Ultrasound in Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Fibromyalgia (FM) is associated with chronic pain and altered neurophysiological regulation. This exploratory pilot study examined intracranial pulse waveform parameters and clinical outcomes following combined photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) applied bilaterally to the hands. Twenty women participated (FM, n = 10; healthy comparators, n = 10); both groups received 10 sessions over 5 weeks. Noninvasive measurements included waveform morphology, P2/P1 ratio, and time to peak. Pain intensity, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were also assessed. At baseline, participants with FM showed a higher proportion of P2 > P1 waveforms and longer time to peak than healthy participants. Following treatment, the FM group showed fewer P2 > P1 waveforms, shorter time to peak, and lower pain, functional impact, and sleep disturbance scores. The P2/P1 ratio did not change significantly. Without a sham-treated group, these findings indicate preliminary associations rather than treatment efficacy or causality.

Source: Journal of Biophotonics

DOI: 10.1002/jbio.70390