Arthritis Research UK Complementary and alternative ...

Arthritis Research UK Complementary and alternative therapies

A report by Arthritis Research UK Complementary and alternative therapies

Practitioner-based complementary and alternative therapies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and low back pain

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Who are we and what do we do?

Arthritis Research UK is the charity leading the fight against arthritis. We're the biggest funder of research in the UK into the cause, treatment and cure of all forms of arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions. Our work takes the pain away from people with arthritis, keeping them active and doing the things they love. We'll do this by funding highquality research, providing information and campaigning. Everything we do is underpinned by research.

Our report, Practitioner-based complementary and alternative therapies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and low back pain, is the second in a series of ongoing, commissioned reports in areas of public interest. At the back of the report you'll find a glossary of some of the commonly used words. We've underlined these when they're first used.



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Arthritis Research UK Complementary and alternative therapies

What's inside?

Executive summary

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Introduction

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The use of complementary and alternative medicines and therapies

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What conditions are considered in this report?

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How was the information in this report gathered?

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Classification of complementary therapies

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What does each section mean?

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Section 1: Review of evidence

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Acupuncture

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Alexander technique

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Aromatherapy

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Autogenic training

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Biofeedback

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Chiropractic (spinal manipulation)

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Copper bracelets

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Craniosacral therapy

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Healing therapies

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Hypnotherapy

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Imagery

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Magnet therapy (static magnets)

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Massage

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Meditation

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Music therapy

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Osteopathy (spinal manipulation)

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Qigong (internal qigong)

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Reflexology

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Relaxation therapy

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T'ai chi

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Yoga

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Section 2: Other therapies

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Crystal healing

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Feldenkrais

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Kinesiology (applied kinesiology)

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Shiatsu

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Summary

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References

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Glossary

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Contributors

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Arthritis Research UK Complementary and alternative therapies

Executive summary

A recent survey found that each year approximately one quarter of the UK population uses complementary or alternative medicine in one form or another, and around one in eight will consult a complementary or alternative practitioner (an osteopath, chiropractor, acupuncturist or massage therapist, for example). Evidence also suggests that the use of complementary or alternative medicine is higher among people with pain or musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis.

A previous report commissioned by Arthritis Research UK, Complementary and alternative medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, focused on products taken by mouth (such as glucosamine, fish oil and various nutritional supplements) or applied to the skin (such as capsaicin gel). Concentrating on the same three conditions, plus chronic low back pain, this second report focuses on treatments delivered by complementary therapists and therapies that use `devices' (for example, copper bracelets or magnets). We aim to help people with musculoskeletal conditions and healthcare professionals by providing information on the scientific evidence about the effectiveness and safety of these therapies, which are all currently available in the UK.

The report scores each therapy according to their effectiveness, with 1 indicating that the evidence suggests the treatment isn't effective and 5 indicating that there's consistent evidence, from several highquality trials, that the therapy is effective. Effectiveness is measured in terms of improvements in pain, disability or quality of life. In addition, the safety of each therapy is graded using a `traffic-light' classification, from green (therapies which we consider relatively safe) to red (therapies for which we would advise caution). No therapies included have a red classification.

Twenty-five therapies are considered in this report, although only 21 have evidence based on randomised controlled trials (RCTs) among patients with the conditions of interest. For those that have been studied, many have only been tested in a single or just a few trials. This makes it difficult to make a definitive conclusion as to whether the therapy is effective or not.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is the least studied of the four conditions examined in this report, with 24 trials including just over 1,500 participants across nine different therapies. Only a little evidence suggests biofeedback, relaxation therapy and T'ai chi are effective, with each gaining an effectiveness score of 2. The other six therapies scored just 1, but all therapies have a green score for safety.

Osteoarthritis

There were 53 trials, examining 14 different therapies, among nearly 6,000 people with osteoarthritis. Twelve therapies scored 1 or 2, but the evidence is much stronger in support of T'ai chi and acupuncture (which scored 4 and 5 respectively), suggesting that patients may benefit from them in terms of in pain, disability or quality of life. All therapies also scored green for safety, except chiropractic, which has an amber rating.

Fibromyalgia

There were 50 trials, examining 17 different therapies, among over 3,000 patients with fibromyalgia. Thirteen of the therapies scored either 1 or 2, but there's some promising evidence to suggest that T'ai chi and relaxation therapy may be effective (both had an effectiveness score of 3). Acupuncture and massage were rated even higher, with scores of 4 and 5. All therapies are also rated green for safety except chiropractic, which has an amber rating.

Low back pain

Low back pain is the most studied of the four conditions examined in this report, with 75 trials, including over 11,600 participants, across 14 different therapies. Eight therapies scored only 1 or 2, but the evidence for Alexander technique and relaxation therapy is promising, with both receiving a score of 3. These therapies are also considered to be safe, and were given a green rating.

Osteopathy was also given a score of 3, but it was given an amber safety rating. This wasn't because of an increased risk of serious side-effects but because minor side-effects are more common. There's also good evidence in support of yoga and acupuncture (effectiveness scores of 4 and 5), and both are considered to be safe, and were given a green rating.

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