Observational study of the effects of an osteopathic treatment for patients with fibromyalgia

Abstract

Background. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of an osteopathic treatment on the main symptoms of Fibromyalgia: pain, quality of sleep, anxiety, depression, deterioration in the quality of life. Methods. This open, prospective and observational pilot study included 13 patients, all of them submitted to an osteopathic treatment. The study took place in the «Centre d′Évluation et de Traitement de la Douleur» (Centre of Evaluation and Treatment of Pain) at the «Saint-Antoine» Hospital in Paris. The osteopathic treatment has been adapted to each patient without pre-established procedure of treatment. Six sessions with three weeks intervals (± seven days). The intensity as well as the impression of alteration of the symptoms has been evaluated before the first and after the last session of treatment with the following auto evaluation forms: QCD, QIF, PSQI, HAD and PGIC. Results. In all 13 patients (women: 92%, middle-aged 51 years), the Quality of Life (QIF) improved with 34% namely from 73,9±10,2 to 48,7±17,6 (p<0.0001). The Sleep score (PSQI) decreased with 25 % i. e. 13,3±3,3 to 10±3,4 (p=0003) as well as Pain that decreased with 38 %, that is from 58,5±15,7 to 36,2±16,1 (p=0,005). Anxiety decreases with 25 %, namely from 10,5±4,2 to 7,9±4,5 (p=0,004).There was no significative diminishing of Depression. Conclusion. The results of this cohort are encouraging even if the high standard deviations seem to be the mirror of important interindividual differences. A controlled, randomized trial with more patients is necessary to confirm these data.