title: A randomized trial of tai chi for fibromyalgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has suggested that tai chi offers a therapeutic benefit in patients with fibromyalgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a single-blind, randomized trial of classic Yang-style tai chi as compared with a control intervention consisting of wellness education and stretching for the treatment of fibromyalgia (defined by American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria). Sessions lasted 60 minutes each and took place twice a week for 12 weeks for each of the study groups. The primary end point was a change in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) score (ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms) at the end of 12 weeks. Secondary end points included summary scores on the physical and mental components of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). All assessments were repeated at 24 weeks to test the durability of the response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 66 randomly assigned patients, the 33 in the tai chi group had clinically important improvements in the FIQ total score and quality of life. Mean (+/-SD) baseline and 12-week FIQ scores for the tai chi group were 62.9+/-15.5 and 35.1+/-18.8, respectively, versus 68.0+/-11 and 58.6+/-17.6, respectively, for the control group (change from baseline in the tai chi group vs. change from baseline in the control group, -18.4 points; P<0.001). The corresponding SF-36 physical-component scores were 28.5+/-8.4 and 37.0+/-10.5 for the tai chi group versus 28.0+/-7.8 and 29.4+/-7.4 for the control group (between-group difference, 7.1 points; P=0.001), and the mental-component scores were 42.6+/-12.2 and 50.3+/-10.2 for the tai chi group versus 37.8+/-10.5 and 39.4+/-11.9 for the control group (between-group difference, 6.1 points; P=0.03). Improvements were maintained at 24 weeks (between-group difference in the FIQ score, -18.3 points; P<0.001). No adverse events were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tai chi may be a useful treatment for fibromyalgia and merits long-term study in larger study populations. (Funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00515008.)
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. cwang2@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
authors.forename: Chenchen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Christopher H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Ramel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rones
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalish
authors.forename: Janeth
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yinh
authors.forename: Don L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: Yoojin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McAlindon
mesh_terms: D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D026302:Tai Ji; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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