Fibromyalgia symptoms reduced by low-frequency sound stimulation – new research

Low-frequency sound stimulation was shown to reduce pain and sleep symptoms in a small study of people with fibromyalgia, according to a small study published in Pain Research and Management.
A total of 19 women previously diagnosed with fibromyalgia were asked about their: symptoms; therapies they had tried; medication used; levels of pain, mood and insomnia; and activities of daily living. Their ability to sit and stand without pain was assessed as was their range of motion and muscle tone.
All participants then had a series of twice-weekly low-frequency sound stimulation treatments in a full-body lounge device for five weeks. This involved participants experiencing a low hum and vibrotactile sensation for 23 minutes.
Key findings
• Scores of pain, mood, activities of daily living and insomnia improved by over 65% of participants at the end of treatment;
• Subjective assessments of pain and activities of daily living were improved by an average of more than 70% of the group;
• Just under 90% of the volunteers reported their condition to be much or very much better;
• No-one reported worsening symptoms;
• Almost 75% of patients reported using less medication;
• Length of time the volunteers were able to sit or stand increased;
• Range of motion was improved from 25% at the start of the study to higher than 75% in nine patients. Only three of 19 patients had range of motion lower than 25% after treatment.
But the good effects seemed to wear off. Two weeks after the treatment ended, three people reported no symptom recurrence, but 68.4% reported recurrence of pain. And sleep disturbances occurred in 17.8%.

Click here to read the original research.

Image credit: Tess Watson

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