Efeitos da acupuntura,eletroacupuntura e moxabustão na qualidade de vida e no controle da dor em mulheres fibromiálgicas

Abstract

Pain is one of the major causes of human suffering, afflicted humanity since the beginning of its existence and, regardless of its acute or chronic character, triggers in man changes in sleep patterns, appetite and libido, irritability, decreased ability to concentrate, in addition to difficulties in family, professional and social activities. Fibromyalgia (FB) is a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, etiology not yet fully clarified, that occurs predominantly in white individuals, affecting 2.5% of the Brazilian population, with higher incidence in females, in the productive phase (before 50 years of age), and may also affect children and the elderly. In the absence of specific markers, the diagnosis of FB is based on clinical findings according to criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology: widespread pain present in the axial skeleton and in both hemibodies, above and below the waist, presence of 11 or more of the 18 tender points and chronic pain for more than 3 months. FB treatment aims to reduce pain and associated symptoms and improve quality of life. Antidepressants associated with non-pharmacological treatments including low impact aerobic, stretching, strengthening programs, or muscle relaxation, rehabilitation and physical therapy have been used with results not always satisfactory. Other therapies such as balneotherapy, thermotherapy, magnetic therapy, homeopathy, manual handling, dietotherapy, music therapy and acupuncture are recommended for its self-regulatory, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. In search of other therapeutic options, this study aims to evaluate the effects of acupuncture, electroacupuncture and moxibu stion on the pain and quality of life in fibromyalgic women. Thirty women aged between 20 and 60 years (mean age 46.90±9.24), selected according to predefined criteria, with FB, who had pain of moderate to severe intensity (<4kg/cm2) were included in the study. The patients were randomized, distributed in three groups (n=10) and treated with acupuncture (AC) [G-1], electroacupuncture (EAC) [G-2] and moxibustion (MX) [G-3], during 8 weeks (weekly sessions). Stainless steel needles were inserted into specific acupoints bilaterally (Neiguan/PC-6, Hegu/G-4, Yanglingquan/VB-34, Sanyinjiao/BP-6 and Taichong/F-3) in all patients, and retained for 30 minutes. Additionally, EAC (G-2) or MX (G-3) were applied during 30 minutes. To evaluate the intensity of the pain the McGill questionnaire, the Wong-Baker Faces Scale and the Fischer Algometer device were used. The quality of life was assessed using the questionnaire The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), translated, adapted and validated for the Portuguese language in 1999.The data was tabulated using the Excel 2007 software for Windows ® from Microsoft Corporation (U.S.A). GraphPad Prism ® v. 5.00 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California, U.S.A) program was used for statistical analysis. The results show that none of the three treatment methods used in the study (AC, EAC, MX) promotes reduction of pain in fibromyalgic women, after 8 weeks of treatment. However, both EAC as MX treatments improve the mental health. Additionally, the AC improves vitality in these patients.