title: Complementary treatment in fibromyalgia: combination of somatic and abdominal acupuncture.
abstract: Fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome characterised by widespread pain associated with a variety of other signs and symptoms. The emerging consensus indicates that the best approach to treatment involves the combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Since acupuncture is a tool of traditional Chinese medicine increasingly used as an alternative or complementary therapy for the treatment of pain, the present study aimed to combine two different acupunctural methods (the somatic and abdominal one) in the treatment of 30 consecutive female FM patients and to evaluate the reduction of pain and the well-being state. The results showed a statistically significant reduction of the number of tender points and of pain. Moreover we observed a statistically significant reduction of FIQ, FAS, HAQ, disease activity VAS, ZSAS, ZSDS at the end of the treatment. In conclusion, these data suggest that the combination of two types of acupuncture could be a useful complementary treatment in FM patients, not only to control pain but also to improve associated symptoms and quality of life. As a result, acupuncture could be very useful to relieve pain in a multidisciplinary setting.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. cristina.iannuccelli@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iannuccelli
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mannocci
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Guzzo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gerardi
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atzeni
authors.forename: Piercarlo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarzi-Puttini
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valesini
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Franco
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D061028:Trigger Points / Q000503:physiopathology