Table 1

Study participants and baseline characteristics

Variable

Immediate practice group

Wait-list, then delayed practice group

Randomized

N = 53

N = 47

Completed study (%)

N = 43 (81.1%)

N = 30 (63.8%)

Gender M:F (% ratio)

3:50 (6:94)

1:46 (2:98)

Age at enrollment, years (SD)

52.81 (8.91)

52.13 (8.56)

Duration of FM, years (SD)

9.67 (6.87)

9.62 (7.56)

Total tender points (IQR)

15 (14, 16)

15 (13, 16)

BMI at enrollment (IQR)

30 (25.4, 34.7)

29.4 (24.8, 34.8)

Additional pain diagnoses

Back

23 (43.3%)

21 (44.7%)

Cervical sprain

16 (30.2%)

18 (38.3%)

Diabetic neuropathy

2 (3.8%)

3 (6.4%)

Post-surgical/post-traumatic

4 (7.5%)

8 (17.0%)

Headache

31 (58.5%)

27 (57.4%)

Orofacial pain

23 (43.4%)

33 (70.2%) P < 0.007

Osteoarthritis

22 (41.5%)

17 (36.2%)

Rheumatoid arthritis

5 (9.4%)

4 (8.5%)

Other

16 (30.2%)

13 (27.7%)

Previous treatments

Anticonvulsants

14 (26.4%)

25 (53.2%)

Antidepressants

45 (84.9%)

34 (72.3%)

Nerve blocks/injections

7 (13.2%)

4 (8.5%)

NSAIDs

37 (69.8%)

36 (76.6%)

Opioids

22 (41.5%)

14 (29.8%)

Acupuncture

24 (45.3%)

24 (51.1%)

Chiropractic

11 (20.8%)

17 (36.2%)

Naturopath/Homeopath/Osteopath

17 (32.1%)

22 (46.8%)

Massage therapy

36 (67.9%)

32 (68.1%)

Physiological therapies

26 (49.1%)

23 (48.9%)

Psychological therapies

19 (35.8%)

20 (42.6%)

Current pain medications

Anticonvulsants

13 (24.5%)

14 (29.8%)

Antidepressants

20 (37.7%)

15 (31.9%)

NSAIDs

26 (49.1%)

27 (57.4%)

Opioids

19 (35.8%)

11 (23.4%)

Other

29 (54.7%)

28 (59.6%)

Total number (SD)

2.43 (1.41)

2.49 (1.59)

BMI, body mass index; IQR, interquartile range; SD, standard deviation

Lynch et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14:R178   doi:10.1186/ar3931