Fibromyalgia - Highlights

Highlights

Diagnosis

• Because many patients do not meet the current fibromyalgia criteria, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has proposed a new set of diagnostic criteria that take into consideration symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive problems, in addition to pain.

Treatment

• The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi, which combines slow movement and meditation, may benefit people with fibromyalgia. Research finds that tai chi improves pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness, and depression better than a program of stretching exercises and wellness education.
• Exercise can help relieve fibromyalgia, but many people with the condition find it hard to exercise for long periods of time. Adding small amounts of everyday physical activity like taking the stairs, gardening, and walking helps people with fibromyalgia increase their daily amount of exercise and improves their pain and fatigue. As people improve, they can gradually increase their exercise in a graded fashion.

Review Date: 12/27/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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