Fibromyalgia:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition affecting the musculoskeletal system that can be quite disabling. Symptoms include:
- joint stiffness
- sleep disturbance
- fatigue
- social and emotional consequences
Accupuncture:
Acupuncture is considered a complimentary medicine. It originates the 4000 year old system of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is based on removing areas of stuck energy in the body. Meridians, or lines of energy flow, are the organizing principle for locating and releasing this stuck energy.
About the Mayo Study:
The Mayo study, led by anesthesiologist, David P. Martin, MD looked at 50 patients with fibromyalgia. Twenty-five patients recieved acupuncture, while 25 served as a control group. The study was a randomized, control trial, and was published in the June issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
What the Study Found:
The patients who recieved the acupuncture for fibromyalgia reported significant improvement in symptoms, especially symptoms of fatigue and anxiety. Patients reported minimal side effects from the acupuncture.
The Significance of the Study:
The significance of the study is two-fold:
- It shows that acupuncture is helpful with pain management for fibromyalgia patients
- It proves that it is possible to study acupuncture in a randomized, controlled trial, the most reliable type of medical research.
Bibliography:
1 Press Release. Acupuncture Relieves Symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Newswise. June 13, 2006.
2 Researcher Profile: Martin, David, Summary of P, M.D., Summary of Current Work. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Retrieved: June 13, 2006 from: http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/staff/martin_dp.cfm.
