Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia.


Author: Slomski A


Conference/Journal: JAMA.
Date published: 2018 May 22
Other:
 Volume ID: 319   ,  Issue ID: 20   ,  Pages: 2069   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.6255.   ,  Word Count: 136  
    PMID: 29800175  DOI: 10.1001/jama.2018.6255



Clinical Trials Update

May 22/29, 2018

Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia

Anita Slomski, MA

JAMA. 2018;319(20):2069. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.6255

Tai chi is equally or more beneficial than aerobic exercise for people with fibromyalgia, according to a trial published in BMJ. Fluctuations in symptoms may limit aerobic exercise, the standard nondrug treatment for fibromyalgia.



The 226 patients with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to either supervised aerobic exercise (60 minutes twice weekly for 24 weeks) or to 1 of 4 supervised tai chi interventions (60-minute sessions once or twice weekly for 12 or 24 weeks).



At 24 weeks, scores on the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire improved in all 5 treatment groups but were greater in the tai chi groups. The only clinically significant difference in improvement between the 2 groups, however, was in the highest intensity tai chi group (twice a week for 24 weeks) compared with the same intensity aerobic exercise.