Exploration the Mechanism of Ba-Duan-Jin Therapy in the Management of Fibromyalgia

Exploration the Therapeutic Mechanism of Ba-Duan-Jin in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia by Improving Intestinal Microecology

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic debilitating musculoskeletal pain syndrome. "Central sensitization" is an important mechanism of the disease. Recent studies have shown that "microbiome-gut-brain axis" imbalance may be one of the important mechanisms of "central sensitization". The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Ba-Duan-Jin therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia by improving intestinal microecology. The mechanism was evaluated by comparing the results of brain functional MRI (fMRI) and microbacterial analysis of the patients' stool pre and post treatment .

Inclusion Criteria:

• meet the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Research Classification Criteria for fibromyalgia and 2016 Revisions to the 2010/2011 fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria;
• be between the ages of 18 to 70 years;
• not taking medication for FM for at least 4 weeks;
• no special eating habits.

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, 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;
• patients with a history of head trauma;
• a smoker or drinker;
• contraindications for MRI,including metal implants, cardiac pacemaker,false tooth, surgical artery clips, metal tattoos or claustrophobia;
• patients with cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage.