| Study |
N (Women) |
Intervention |
Current Treatments |
| Active Group |
Sham Group |
Technique |
Treatment |
|
| Lautenschlager, 1989 |
17 (17) |
20 (18) |
- Electroacupuncture vs placebo treatments with a disconnected laser equipment
|
6 treatments |
|
| Deluze, 1992 |
36 (33) |
34 (21) |
- 4-10 stainless steel needles (0.3-22 mm). Depth: 10-25 mm
- Electrostimulator (5 pairs of electrodes). 1-99 Hz (frecuency), 10 mA (max. intensity).
- Electrostimulation in common acupuncture points vs electrostimulation 20 mm away from these points.
|
6 sessions (2 sessions / w during 3 w)
|
Any other usual treatments: physiotherapy, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, tricyclic antidepressants. |
| Sprott, 1998a |
10 |
10 |
- Acupuncture points according to the rules and nomenclature of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Acupuncture treatments vs sham treatments (disconnected laser equipment)
|
6 treatments (2 treatments / w during 3 w)
|
- Active and passive physiotherapy
- Local applications of heat or cold
- No medication (only Paracetamol in case of powerful pain)
|
| Assefi, 2005 |
25 (22) |
71 (69) |
- Directed acupuncture according to the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine vs 1 of 3 sham acupuncture treatments: acupuncture for an unrelated condition, needle insertion at nonacupoint locations, or noninsertive simulated acupuncture.
- Time of needle insertion (30-40 gauge): 30 min./acupoint
|
2 treatment / w during 12 w
|
Any usual fibromyalgia-related pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies without additional changes |
| Harris, 2005 |
29 (29) |
28 (24) |
- Sterile, 2.54 cm, single-use, disposable, 38-gauge stainless steel needles
- Manual stimulation in traditional needle locations vs manual stimulation in non traditional needle locations
|
- 3w: 1 treatment / w
- 3w: 2 treatment / w
- 3w: 3 treatment / w2w washout period between each treatment dose
|
Normal treatment regimen without additional changes |
| Martin, 2006 |
25 (25) |
25 (24) |
- 18 needle during the first 3 sessions and 20 needles during the final 3 sessions
- Electrical stimulation (frequency: 1-10 Hz) in traditional points vs sham stimulation with modified acupuncture needle that looks identical to the acupuncture treatment
|
6 treatment sessions (1 treatment / 2 to 4 days during 2 to 3 w) |
|