Nonpharmacologic management strategies in fibromyalgia

Clinicians using the results of the extant research base can take an optimistic view of the role of nonpharmacologic treatment strategies for fibromyalgia. There were no negative outcomes in any of the reviewed studies, although in a few studies the experimental treatment did not prove to be more effective than the attention control. Rather than viewing this negatively, one could look more closely at the attention control groups and attempt to better understand what they contained that worked as an active treatment. A number of trials included a follow-up component and all but one of them found maintenance of at least one outcome change. Maintenance of changes is more likely to occur when the patient continues to participate in the experimental activity long-term. Patients especially need strategies that help them continue in exercise regimens. Unlike cognitive skills strategies that once learned are likely to become part of a person's coping repertoire, both exercise and behavioral strategies, like progressive muscle relaxation, need to be performed on a consistent basis in order to have their effect. The goals of increased self-efficacy, symptom reduction, increased functional status and quality of life along with decreased inappropriate use of health care resources are realistic when patients persevere in their use of strategy combinations and receive support from their providers.