Acupuncture significantly reduces pain intensity and fatigue in women suffering from fibromyalgia but more than 50% of these effects are not specifically attributable to acupuncture.
The method for this research involved an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. An electronic search of multiple databases, including MEDLINE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL, PEDro, and SPORTDiscus, was conducted. The search included all relevant studies up until December 2023. Studies were chosen for review on the basis that they examined the clinical diagnosis of fibromyalgia and compared the effectiveness of acupuncture to a placebo treatment. Indicators assessed in the study were pain intensity, functional status, fatigue, sleep quality, and depression symptoms.
After analysis conducted over 11 systematic reviews which involved 8399 participants, the results showed a significant reduction in pain intensity and fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia post acupuncture treatment when compared to a placebo. However, more than half of these results were not definitively attributable to acupuncture specifically, indicating the possibility of other contributing factors. While the evidence certainty was low and the effects not clinically significant, this research indicates that acupuncture can potentially contribute to managing certain fibromyalgia symptoms.
