Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · Aug 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized controlled trial of 8-form Tai chi improves symptoms and functional mobility in fibromyalgia patients.
Previous researchers have found that 10-form Tai chi yields symptomatic benefit in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). The purpose of this study was to further investigate earlier findings and add a focus on functional mobility. We conducted a parallel-group randomized controlled trial FM-modified 8-form Yang-style Tai chi program compared to an education control. ⋯ No adverse events were noted. Twelve weeks of Tai chi, practice twice weekly, provided worthwhile improvement in common FM symptoms including pain and physical function including mobility. Tai chi appears to be a safe and an acceptable exercise modality that may be useful as adjunctive therapy in the management of FM patients. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT01311427).
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Clinical rheumatology · Aug 2012
Should rheumatologists retain ownership of fibromyalgia? A survey of Ontario rheumatologists.
Fibromyalgia is a controversial widespread chronic pain disorder that includes a wide constellation of somatic and emotional symptoms. This study surveyed the opinion of Ontario rheumatologists with respect to their beliefs about the nature and management of fibromyalgia. A key objective was to ascertain if rheumatologists should continue to be the main care providers for these patients. ⋯ The majority of Ontario rheumatologists do not wish to retain ownership of fibromyalgia. However, most of them continue to manage these patients, even though they believe that the family physician should be the main care provider for patients with fibromyalgia. Rheumatologists may be providing care to these patients primarily because this care is not available to them from their primary care physicians.
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Clinical rheumatology · Aug 2012
Predictors of health-related quality of life and fatigue in systemic sclerosis: evaluation of the EuroQol-5D and FACIT-F assessment tools.
This study evaluates predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fatigue in systemic sclerosis (SSc) using two novel self-report indices. A cross-sectional study of patients with SSc was undertaken using a postal questionnaire including the EuroQol-5Domain health questionnaire (EQ-5D™), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale (FACIT-F) and the Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ). The EQ-5D assesses five domains of health quality and is quantified as a time trade-off (TTO) value and patient global assessment (0-100 visual analogue scale [VAS]). ⋯ Of the patient demographics and clinical disease associations, only the absence of upper gastrointestinal complications was associated with better levels of fatigue, HRQoL and function. There is a strong correlation between disability, fatigue and HRQoL measured using self-reports, possibly reflecting similarly perceived health beliefs amongst patients across outcomes. There was little association between self-report indices and patient demographics and/or clinical phenotype.