Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Valera‐Calero, Juan Antonio; Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas, César; Navarro-Santana, Marcos J; Plaza-Manzano, Gustavo

doi:10.3390/ijerph19169904

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…The results demonstrated that both interventions led to significant improvements in various clinical outcomes, with dry needling showing superior efficacy compared to stretching. These findings align with previous studies that have reported the benefits of non-pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia (17) The significant reduction in FIQ scores observed in both groups indicates that both dry needling and stretching can effectively alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. However, the more substantial improvements seen in the dry-needling group suggest that this technique might be more effective in targeting specific pain points and reducing associated symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Stretching in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Sumaira Yasmin,

Nida Ilahi,

Sania Naz

et al. 2024

JHRR

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Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is characterized by widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and a range of psychosomatic symptoms. Non-pharmacological treatments, such as physical therapy, have shown promise in managing these symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dry needling and stretching in reducing pain pressure thresholds, fatigue, and disability in fibromyalgia patients. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of dry needling and stretching in the treatment of fibromyalgia, specifically focusing on improvements in pain pressure thresholds, fatigue, and disability. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 10 female participants aged 35-55 years, diagnosed with fibromyalgia and scoring over 60 on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (Stretching) and Group B (Dry-Needling). Each group received two treatment sessions over six months. The Stretching protocol involved static stretching of major muscle groups, while the Dry-Needling protocol involved the insertion of thin filiform needles into tender points. Both groups also received routine physical therapy, including hot packs and ultrasound therapy. Data were collected using the FIQ before and after the interventions. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in FIQ scores after treatment. Group A (Stretching) had a mean pre-treatment FIQ score of 119.2 ± 11.0 and a post-treatment score of 105.8 ± 9.1 (p < 0.001). Group B (Dry-Needling) had a mean pre-treatment FIQ score of 120.8 ± 9.2 and a post-treatment score of 67.8 ± 4.0 (p < 0.001). The Dry-Needling group showed greater improvements across all measured parameters, including reductions in pain (t = 11.0, p < 0.001), fatigue (t = 14.0, p < 0.001), and sleep disturbances (t = 4.5, p = 0.010). Conclusion: Both dry needling and stretching significantly reduced pain, fatigue, and disability in fibromyalgia patients, with dry needling demonstrating greater efficacy. These findings support the inclusion of dry needling as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for fibromyalgia. Keywords: Fibromyalgia, Dry Needling, Stretching, Pain Management, Fatigue Reduction, Disability Improvement, Non-Pharmacological Treatment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Stretching in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Sumaira Yasmin,

Nida Ilahi,

Sania Naz

et al. 2024

JHRR

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“…However, this effect was not detected in the Mental Component Summary (MCS). Previous studies have recommended combining vestibular rehabilitation with other therapeutic strategies, such as education in pain neuroscience or vertigo [70][71][72], relaxation techniques [72] or acupuncture [73], to more successfully address psychological aspects such as anxiety, kinesophobia or catastrophism, and the realization of physical exercise to contribute to the improvement of vertiginous symptomatology and provide well-being [18,74]. For future lines of work, it would be interesting to include a combined care of VR, therapeutic education and physical exercise to seek a complementarity of the different therapies and cover the wide range of symptoms that characterize FMS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation in Improving Health Status and Balance in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2023

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Background: Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a highly prevalent health problem whose main symptom is widespread pain, although it presents as other manifestations, such as loss of balance, that seem to mainly affect visuo-vestibular information. Objective: to compare the effects of a Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) program versus those of a Conventional Physical Exercise (CPE) program on the health status of patients with FMS. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients with FMS were randomly assigned to VR or CPE programs. The protocols were performed in 40 min group sessions, twice weekly, for 16 sessions. Perceived health status, static and dynamic balance, verticality perception, confidence in balance, sensitization and kinesiophobia were measured at baseline, post-treatment and at the three-month follow-up and analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach. Results: Forty-eight subjects were randomly assigned, of whom thirty-five completed the planned VR (n = 19) or CPE (n = 16) program. At the three-month follow-up, there were differences in physical health status measured with the SF-12 (mean = −4.36, SE = 1.88, p = 0.027), balance during walking (mean = 1.90, SE = 0.57, p = 0.002), the perception of verticality in degrees (mean = 3.61, SE = 1.51, p = 0.024) and the anteroposterior position of the center of pressure (mean = −7.88, SE = 2.80, p = 0.009), as well as a decrease in the number of falls (mean = 0.98, SE = 0.44, p = 0.033), favoring the VR group. Conclusions: Vestibular Rehabilitation can be as beneficial as conventional exercise in improving the state of health in patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome, providing additional improvements in physical health status, body balance, the perception of verticality and the number of falls.

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“…Among these therapies, acupuncture is widely known as one of the common forms to alleviate pain and improve sleep ( 87 , 88 ). For example, acupuncture treatment can reduce pain pressure thresholds and improve sleep disturbances in patients with fibromyalgia ( 89 ). A systematic review and meta-analysis has also shown that acupuncture can relieve pain and improve sleep quality in patients with CP-related insomnia ( 90 ).…”

Section: Clinical Research On the Relationship Between Chronic Pain A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Althogh not recommended by current guidelines, many alternative and complementary therapies are popular worldwide and have been increasingly studied to treat CP and sleep disorders, including music therapy, aromatherapy, massage, and acupuncture (85,86). Among these therapies, acupuncture is widely known as one of the common forms to alleviate pain and improve sleep (87,88). For example, acupuncture treatment can reduce pain pressure thresholds and improve sleep disturbances in patients with fibromyalgia (89).…”

Section: Complementary and Alternative Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep disorders in chronic pain and its neurochemical mechanisms: a narrative review

Duo,

Yu,

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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Chronic pain (CP) is a prevalent problem, and more than half of patients with CP have sleep disorders. CP comorbidity with sleep disorders imposes immense suffering and seriously affects the patient’s quality of life, which is a challenging issue encountered by clinicians. Although the reciprocal interactions between pain and sleep have been studied to some degree, there is still a lack of awareness and comprehensive description of CP comorbidity with sleep disorders. In this narrative review article, we summarize the current knowledge about the present estimates of the prevalence of comorbid sleep disorders in CP patients, sleep detection methods, sleep characterization in CP, and the effect of sleep disorders on CP and current therapies. We also summarize current knowledge of the neurochemical mechanisms of CP comorbidity with sleep disorders. In conclusion, insufficient attention has been paid to the role of sleep disorders in CP patients, and CP patients should be screened for sleep disorders in the clinic. Special attention should be given to a possible risk of drug–drug interaction when using two types of drugs targeting pain and sleep simultaneously. The current insight into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying CP comorbidity with sleep disorders is still rather limited.

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Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cited by 12 publications

References 64 publications

Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Stretching in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Stretching in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation in Improving Health Status and Balance in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Sleep disorders in chronic pain and its neurochemical mechanisms: a narrative review

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