Comparison of Ba-Duan-Jin and Pregabalin in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Comparison the Treatment Effects Between Ba-Duan-Jin and Pregabalin in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic debilitating musculoskeletal pain syndrome. Pregabalin is the only medication that has been approved to treat fibromyalgia in China. Currently, there has been a growing interest in the development of non-pharmacological therapies. Ba-Duan-Jin is an ancient Chinese exercise for health promotion yet easy to learn. Findings from our previous study showed an effectiveness and good safety of Ba-Duan-Jin in patients with fibromyalgia. This study is to evaluate the effectiveness comparison of Ba-Duan-Jin and pregabalin in managing fibromyalgia symptoms experienced by Chinese patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• meet the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Research Classification Criteria for fibromyalgia;
• be between the ages of 18 to 70 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• had practiced Ba-Duan-Jin, Tai Chi, yoga or other forms of Qigong exercise within 12 months of their recruitment to the study;
• be less than 40mm of pain VAS score;
• had renal failure, and severe depression or anxiety;
• had any poorly-controlled comorbid medical conditions, such as dementia, cancer, thyroid disease, inflammatory arthritis;
• pregnancy or planned pregnancy within the study period;
• patients residing more than 70 miles from the research site.