A study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2006; 81(6): 749-57) evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating fibromyalgia.
The study included 50 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to American College of Rheumatology criteria. All participants had previously tried other forms of conservative care without adequate relief. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. One group received six acupuncture treatments over a two- to three-week period, while the other group received placebo (sham) treatment.
In the treatment group, electrical stimulation was applied between two acupuncture points on each side of the body. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, during treatment, and one month after treatment ended using two standardized tools: the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Pain Inventory.
Patients who received acupuncture showed significantly greater improvement than those in the placebo group. The most notable benefits were reductions in pain and anxiety. These improvements were not only present during treatment but were most pronounced one month after the completion of acupuncture, suggesting a sustained therapeutic effect.
