Fibromyalgia: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation lacks positive evidence as a treatment

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has been used for a decade for the treatment of fibromyalgia, but evidence of its effectiveness is not definitive.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a magnetic method used to stimulate small regions of the brain. A magnetic field generator, or coil, is placed near the head. The coil is connected to a pulse generator, or stimulator, that delivers electric current to the coil, so small electric currents are delivered to the region of the brain just under the coil.

Experts recently investigated if there is evidence of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation being effective in decreasing the severity of pain in people with fibromyalgia.

An extensive review of the research found “moderate evidence that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is not more effective than sham in reducing the severity of pain in fibromyalgia patients, questioning the routine recommendation of this method for fibromyalgia treatment”.

Click here to read the original research. 

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