The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Item

Title

The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Author(s)

Journal Publication

Date

2017

volume

42(1)

pages

32-37

Research Type

RCT

Keywords

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this manuscript is to determine and to compare the efficacy of real acupuncture with sham acupuncture on fibromyalgia (FM) treatment. METHODS: 50 women with FM were randomized into 2 groups to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Subjects were evaluated with VAS (at night, at rest, during activity), SF-36, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression scale (BDI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) at baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the 1st session. Patients in both groups received 3 sessions in the 1st week, 2 sessions/week during 2 weeks and 1 session/week in the following 5 weeks (totally 12 sessions). RESULTS: 25 subjects with a mean age of 47,28+/-7,86 years were enrolled in true acupuncture group and 25 subjects with a mean age of 43,60+/-8,18 years were enrolled in sham acupuncture group. Both groups improved significantly in all parameters 1 month after the 1st session and this improvement persisted 2 months after the 1st session (p<0,05). However, real acupuncture group had better scores than sham acupuncture score in terms of all VAS scores, BDI and FIQ scores either 1 or 2 months after the 1st session (all p<0,05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture significantly improved pain and symptoms of FM. Although sham effect was important, real acupuncture treatment seems to be effective in treatment of FM.

pmid

PMID:28371571

View on Pubmed

Language

English

has health condition studied

Nervous System Diseases

plan

>1/WK

has study population number

50

has duration

10 Weeks

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