Exploring the Role of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Exercise in People With Chronic Widespread Pain and Fibromyalgia

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying people with chronic widespread pain CWP, including fibromyalgia, who often experience increased pain and fatigue after exercise, making it hard to stay active. This trial aims to understand how changes in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF gene relate to exercise-induced pain and to evaluate whether transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS during exercise can help reduce worsening symptoms. The study compares these effects in both people with CWP and healthy controls. Participants will undergo two different sessions in random order one combining exercise with active tDCS and the other combining exercise with sham inactive tDCS. Each session includes a 20-minute bout of moderate aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer and 30 minutes of tDCS applied to specific brain areas. Participants visit the hospital twice with at least one week between visits to complete these sessions. During the study, participants will have their pain levels, blood BDNF protein levels, and BDNF gene methylation measured before and after each session. They will also complete online symptom assessments at multiple time points up to 7 days after exercise. Researchers will monitor fatigue, fibromyalgia impact, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression to understand how tDCS and exercise affect symptoms over time.

The Added Value of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) During Exercise for People With Chronic Widespread Pain