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Musculoskeletal conditions and complementary/alternative medicine
1Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter EX2 4NT, UK. edzard.ernst@pms.ac.uk
Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology
|August 11, 2004
Summary
Complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) shows promise for musculoskeletal pain, but evidence is limited. More research is needed to determine which CAM therapies offer the best risk-benefit balance for specific conditions like back pain and arthritis.
Area of Science:
- Integrative medicine
- Rheumatology
- Pain management
Background:
- Complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used for musculoskeletal conditions.
- Evidence for CAM's efficacy in treating pain is growing but requires careful evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize trial data on CAM for common musculoskeletal conditions.
- To assess the risk-benefit profile of various CAM modalities.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of clinical trial data.
- Analysis of evidence for acupuncture, diets, herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage, and supplements.
- Evaluation of CAM's symptomatic treatment for back pain, fibromyalgia, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Main Results:
- Several CAM modalities, including acupuncture, diets, and herbal medicine, show potential benefits.
- No CAM treatment is entirely risk-free.
- Current evidence is often limited by small study sizes and methodological weaknesses.
Conclusions:
- While some CAM therapies demonstrate promise for musculoskeletal pain, the overall evidence is not yet compelling.
- Further research is crucial to identify specific CAM treatments that provide the greatest benefit with minimal harm for particular conditions.