Fibromyalgia | NCCIH

Fibromyalgia | NCCIH

Fibromyalgia is a common disorder that involves widespread pain, tenderness, fatigue, and other symptoms. It’s not a form of arthritis, but like arthritis, it can interfere with a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. An estimated 5 million American adults have fibromyalgia. Between 80 and 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia are women, but men and children can also have this condition. What do we know about the effectiveness of complementary health approaches for fibromyalgia? Although some studies of tai chi, yoga, mindfulness meditation, and biofeedback for fibromyalgia have had promising results, the evidence is too limited to allow definite conclusions to be reached about whether these approaches are helpful. It’s uncertain whether acupuncture is helpful for fibromyalgia pain. Some preliminary research on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for fibromyalgia symptoms has had promising results. Read more about fibromyalgia