Acupuncture for fibromyalgia in primary care: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of an individualised acupuncture protocol for patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Randomised controlled multicentre trial, blinded to participants and to data analysts. Conducted in three primary care centres in southern Spain. A total of 164 participants aged over 17 years and diagnosed with fibromyalgia were enrolled in this trial; 153 participants completed the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the real intervention (individualised acupuncture, IA) or the sham intervention (sham acupuncture, SA). In both the IA and SA groups, one session per week (lasting 20 min) was provided, in addition to usual pharmacological treatment. The primary outcome was change in pain intensity at 10 weeks. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis revealed that the decrease in pain intensity at 10 weeks was greater (p=0.001) in the IA group (-41.0%, 95% CI -47.2% to -34.8%) than in the SA group (-27.1%, 95% CI -33.2% to -20.9%). During the follow-up period, significant differences (p<0.01) in favour of the IA group persisted at 12 months (IA: -19.9%, 95% CI -24.6% to -15.1%; vs SA: -6.2%, 95% CI -11.2% to -1.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Individualised acupuncture treatment in primary care in patients with fibromyalgia proved efficacious in terms of pain relief, compared with placebo treatment. The effect persisted at 1 year, and its side effects were mild and infrequent. Therefore, the use of individualised acupuncture in patients with fibromyalgia is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN60217348.

[Treatment and rehabilitation of dysphagia following cerebrovascular disease]. / Tratamiento y rehabilitación de la disfagia tras enfermedad cerebrovascular.

INTRODUCTION. Bronchopneumonia is a frequent complication in the first days after a cerebrovascular disease and is linked with a higher rate of mortality. It occurs in patients with an altered level of consciousness or tussigenic reflex, and could be prevented with an early dysphagia rehabilitation programme. AIMS. To review the scientific literature on the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with dysphagia after suffering a stroke, published between 2002 and 2012. DEVELOPMENT. A search conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, CINAHL and ENFISPO databases yielded 15 papers that fulfilled eligibility criteria and the initial aims of the study, providing information about 3,212 patients. The different protocols and techniques for re-education in dysphagia are described and include compensatory strategies, orofacial regulation therapy, music therapy, sensory stimulation, lip muscle, tongue, pharynx, larynx and respiratory tract training, Mendelsohn manoeuvre, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS. The studies examined in this research claim that the treatment of dysphagia following a stroke can improve the function of deglutition (coordination, speed, volume), quality of life and people's social relationships. Further work needs to be carried out to establish or define what kind of therapies, techniques, exercises or manoeuvres are the most effective in dysphagia. Generally agreed treatment or rehabilitation protocols also need to be drawn up within units that address stroke in an integrated manner.

TITLE: Tratamiento y rehabilitacion de la disfagia tras enfermedad cerebrovascular.Introduccion. La bronconeumonia es una complicacion frecuente en los primeros dias despues de una enfermedad cerebrovascular y se asocia con una mayor tasa de mortalidad. Se produce en pacientes con el nivel de conciencia o el reflejo tusigeno alterado, y podria prevenirse con un programa temprano de rehabilitacion de la disfagia. Objetivo. Revisar la literatura cientifica en relacion con el tratamiento y rehabilitacion de pacientes con disfagia tras sufrir un ictus, entre 2002 y 2012. Desarrollo. Las bases de datos PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, CINAHL y ENFISPO ofrecieron 15 articulos que cumplieron los criterios de inclusion y los objetivos planteados, con informacion sobre 3.212 pacientes. Se describen distintos protocolos y tecnicas para la reeducacion de la disfagia, como estrategias compensatorias, terapia de regulacion orofacial, musicoterapia, estimulacion sensorial, entrenamiento muscular labial, de la lengua, faringe, laringe y aparato respiratorio, maniobra de Mendelsohn, estimulacion electrica neuromuscular, estimulacion magnetica transcraneal repetitiva y acupuntura. Conclusiones. Los estudios incluidos en esta investigacion afirman que el tratamiento de la disfagia tras ictus puede mejorar la funcion deglutoria (coordinacion, velocidad, volumen), la calidad de vida y las relaciones sociales de las personas. Existe una labor pendiente para establecer o definir que tipo de terapias, tecnicas, ejercicios o maniobras son los mas eficaces en la disfagia, y para elaborar protocolos de tratamiento o rehabilitacion consensuados dentro de las unidades que abordan integralmente el ictus.

Tratamiento y rehabilitación de la disfagia tras enfermedad cerebrovascular / Treatment and rehabilitation of dysphagia following cerebrovascular disease

Introducción. La bronconeumonía es una complicación frecuente en los primeros días después de una enfermedad cerebrovascular y se asocia con una mayor tasa de mortalidad. Se produce en pacientes con el nivel de conciencia o el reflejo tusígeno alterado, y podría prevenirse con un programa temprano de rehabilitación de la disfagia. Objetivo. Revisar la literatura científica en relación con el tratamiento y rehabilitación de pacientes con disfagia tras sufrir un ictus, entre 2002 y 2012. Desarrollo. Las bases de datos PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, CINAHL y ENFISPO ofrecieron 15 artículos que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y los objetivos planteados, con información sobre 3.212 pacientes. Se describen distintos protocolos y técnicas para la reeducación de la disfagia, como estrategias compensatorias, terapia de regulación orofacial, musicoterapia, estimulación sensorial, entrenamiento muscular labial, de la lengua, faringe, laringe y aparato respiratorio, maniobra de Mendelsohn, estimulación eléctrica neuromu cular, estimulación magnética transcraneal repetitiva y acupuntura. Conclusiones. Los estudios incluidos en esta investigación afirman que el tratamiento de la disfagia tras ictus puede mejorar la función deglutoria (coordinación, velocidad, volumen), la calidad de vida y las relaciones sociales de las personas. Existe una labor pendiente para establecer o definir qué tipo de terapias, técnicas, ejercicios o maniobras son los más eficaces en la disfagia, y para elaborar protocolos de tratamiento o rehabilitación consensuados dentro de las unidades que abordan integralmente el ictus (AU)

Introduction. Bronchopneumonia is a frequent complication in the first days after a cerebrovascular disease and is linked with a higher rate of mortality. It occurs in patients with an altered level of consciousness or tussigenic reflex, and could be prevented with an early dysphagia rehabilitation programme. Aims. To review the scientific literature on the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with dysphagia after suffering a stroke, published between 2002 and 2012. Development. A search conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, CINAHL and ENFISPO databases yielded 15 papers that fulfilled eligibility criteria and the initial aims of the study, providing information about 3,212 patients. The different protocols and techniques for re-education in dysphagia are described and include compensatory strategies, orofacial regulation therapy, music therapy, sensory stimulation, lip muscle, tongue, pharynx, larynx and respiratory tract training, Mendelsohn manoeuvre, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, repetiti transcranial magnetic stimulation and acupuncture. Conclusions. The studies examined in this research claim that the treatment of dysphagia following a stroke can improve the function of deglutition (coordination, speed, volume), quality of life and people’s social relationships. Further work needs to be carried out to establish or define what kind of therapies, techniques, exercises or manoeuvres are the most effective in dysphagia. Generally agreed treatment or rehabilitation protocols also need to be drawn up within units that address stroke in an integrated manner(AU)

Randomised controlled study in the primary healthcare sector to investigate the effectiveness and safety of auriculotherapy for the treatment of uncomplicated chronic rachialgia: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Uncomplicated chronic rachialgia is a highly prevalent complaint, and one for which therapeutic results are contradictory. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with auriculopressure, in the primary healthcare sector, carried out by trained healthcare professionals via a 30-hour course. METHODS/DESIGN: The design consists of a multi-centre randomized controlled trial, with placebo, with two parallel groups, and including an economic evaluation. Patients with chronic uncomplicated rachialgia, whose GP is considering referral for auriculopressure sensory stimulation, are eligible for inclusion. Sampling will be by consecutive selection, and randomised allocation to one of the two study arms will be determined using a centralised method, following a 1:1 plan (true auriculopressure; placebo auriculopressure). The implants (true and placebo) will be replaced once weekly, and the treatment will have a duration of 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the change in pain intensity, measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 100 mm, at 9 weeks after beginning the treatment. A follow up study will be performed at 6 months after beginning treatment. An assessment will also be made of the changes measured in the Spanish version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, of the changes in the Lattinen test, and of the changes in quality of life (SF-12). Also planned is an analysis of cost-effectiveness and also, if necessary, a cost-benefit analysis. DISCUSSION: This study will contribute to developing evidence on the use of auriculotherapy using Semen vaccariae [wang bu liu xing] for the treatment of uncomplicated chronic rachialgia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN01897462.