[Soft-tissue rheumatism--diagnosis and therapeutic concept]

The term fibrositis or soft tissue rheumatism, provides a label to describe a symptom-complex which is common in practice, but the name is suggesting a defined entity that has not been demonstrated. The complaints known as soft tissue rheumatism can be defined as painful states which arise in the muscle and fibrous structures of the body. The patients complain of pain and stiffness in the neck-shoulder girdle and extremities which are worse with work or stress, better with rest or diversion. Physical examination is normal, as are those of x-rays, laboratory tests and biopsies. Numerous forms of therapy, physical and pharmacological, have been employed. Several theories of causative factors are discussed in this paper. Therapy and diagnosis are compared with many theories.