BACKGROUND: In this peculiar case study, we extensively explored the effects of 6 weeks of supervised yoga on the endogenous pain modulatory system, autonomic profile, and corticomotor excitability.

CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old woman diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FMS) was suggested 6 weeks of supervised yoga because the pharmaceutical treatments were ineffective. Assessment was done at baseline, 2 weeks, and post-6 weeks for pain, cognitive skills, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression status. An autonomic profile was done, followed by flexibility and corticomotor excitability assessments.

CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in pain and tender points. Improvements in sleep quality, flexibility, and cognitive skills were observed after 6 weeks. Pain perception and cortical plasticity showed improvement. Autonomic function test shows higher high frequency after intervention. This report supports the view that yoga, as a holistic approach alone, is effective in ameliorating pain and improving dysautonomia. Hence, it may be considered as a therapeutic intervention for FMS in rare cases.

KEYWORDS: Autonomic Function Test (AFT), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 (COMPASS-31), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form (MPQ-SF), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-II (STAI-II), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), corticomotor excitability (CME), quantitative sensory testing (QST)