Cutting Edge Fibromyalgia Treatment Gives Long Term Benefit
The 6 month follow up results from the Triple Blind Random Controlled Trial (RCT) using a NovoTHOR Whole Body PBM Therapy Light Bed has demonstrated that NovoTHOR Whole body PBM Therapy produced significant long term benefits for those patients suffering with the debilitating symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Patients on average had:
- Pain levels reduced by 40%
- Pain catastrophizing reduced by 29% (assesses the way catastrophizing impacts the pain experience of patients)
- Quality of life increased by 68% (assesses the range from 0 indicating no quality of life to 10 the best quality of life)
- Physical activities increased by 68%
- Kinesiophobia reduced by 42% (assesses fears about movement)
- Self efficacy increased by 36% (confidence in effectively accomplishing an activity to achieve the desired outcome)
These are life altering improvements when traditionally very little hope is given to those that have been given this diagnosis as characteristically all Rheumatological blood tests come back ‘normal’. Watch one our of Fibromyalgia patient’s story.
Being told everything is ‘normal’ when clearly patients don’t feel normal can lead to serious distress and further depression on the part of the patient who is naturally trying to find answers and solutions to explain their pains and complex symptoms.
Unfortunately this can often leads to health care providers simply saying that all the pains and symptoms are due to a ‘psychological cause’. Clearly now there is Random Controlled Trials (RCT) evidence demonstrating an effective treatment for Fibromyalgia (in the form of a NovoTHOR PBM Therapy bed) proves Fibromyalgia must have a major component caused by Cytochrome c Oxidase dysfunction in your cells’ Mitochondria. If this was not the case then PBM Therapy would not have produced such impressive results!
To download a pdf of the full research article click / tap the pdf icon below.
What did the Researches Do?
In this trial two equal groups of patients were placed in a NovoTHOR Whole body Photobiomodulation Therapy Light Bed. One group received the real treatment and the other a placebo. They all had:
- Both groups received three 20 minute NovoTHOR Whole Body Photobiomodulation sessions a week for 4 weeks (12 in total), however one of the groups received untherapeutic light
- Questionnaires were used to assess the patients at the start, after 2 weeks and again at the 4 week point, whilst in treatment
- Follow up questionnaires were undertaken at week 6, week 12 (3 months) and week 26 (6 months). The last treatment was the 4 week (1m) stage
Results At 6 Months
The last treatment was at 1 month so no more treatment was administered after this.
Pain Levels
10 being the worst pain ever, 0 being no pain at all.
| Stats | Start | 2w | 4w | 6w | 3m | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p value | p=0.78 | p=0.154 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p=0.017 | p=0.001 |
| Cohens d score | -0.18 | -0.37 | 2.06 | 2.87 | -0.53 | 1.16 |
Cohens d score of +/- 0.2 is considered a small difference between the groups, +/- 0.5 is considered moderate and a greater than +/- 0.8 is considered large difference between the groups. To be statistically significant the p value must be 0.05 or less so a 0.001 significance is 50 times more significant that the threshold.
Pain Catastrophising Score
This consisted of questions about: ‘Helplessness’ – evaluates an individuals belief regarding their ability to influence their pain experience. ‘Magnification’ – to assess the extent to which an individual exaggerates the threat of a painful stimulus. ‘Rumination’ – how much an individual is preoccupied with pain, thoughts of pain and being unable to escape from it.
| Stats | Start | 2w | 4w | 6w | 3m | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p value | p=0.859 | p=0.81 | p=0.32 | p=0.14 | p=0.05 | p=0.006 |
| Cohens d score | -0.05 | 0.08 | 0.30 | 0.44 | 0.64 | 0.83 |
Cohens d score of +/- 0.2 is considered a small difference between the groups, +/- 0.5 is considered moderate and a greater than +/- 0.8 is considered large difference between the groups. To be statistically significant the p value must be 0.05 or less so a 0.006 significance is 8 times more significant that the threshold.
Quality of Life Score (QOLS)
0 indicating no quality of life to 10 the best quality of life.
| Stats | Start | 2w | 4w | 6w | 3m | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p value | p=0.21 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 |
| Cohens d score | -0.42 | -0.129 | -2.49 | -3.26 | -3.2 | -2.35 |
Cohens d score of +/- 0.2 is considered a small difference between the groups, +/- 0.5 is considered moderate and a greater than +/- 0.8 is considered large difference between the groups. To be statistically significant the p value must be 0.05 or less so a 0.001 significance is 50 times more significant that the threshold.
Leisure Physical Activity (GODIN test)
0 indicating no activity of life to 100 as active as you could be.
| Stats | Start | 2w | 4w | 6w | 3m | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p value | p=0.93 | p=0.68 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 |
| Cohens d score | 0.09 | 0.15 | -1.90 | -2.70 | -2.55 | -2.86 |
Cohens d score of +/- 0.2 is considered a small difference between the groups, +/- 0.5 is considered moderate and a greater than +/- 0.8 is considered large difference between the groups. To be statistically significant the p value must be 0.05 or less so a 0.001 significance is 50 times more significant that the threshold.
Kinesiophobia
Asses fear about movement the lower the number the less fear you have.
| Stats | Start | 2w | 4w | 6w | 3m | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p value | p=0.01 | p=0.008 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 |
| Cohens d score | 0.83 | 0.87 | 1.25 | 1.49 | 1.24 | 2.16 |
Cohens d score of +/- 0.2 is considered a small difference between the groups, +/- 0.5 is considered moderate and a greater than +/- 0.8 is considered large difference between the groups. To be statistically significant the p value must be 0.05 or less so a 0.001 significance is 50 times more significant that the threshold.
Self Efficacy
Confidence in effectively accomplishing an activity to achieve the desired outcome. The higher the number the better you are.
| Stats | Start | 2w | 4w | 6w | 3m | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p value | p=0.512 | p=0.67 | p=0.034 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 |
| Cohens d score | -0.28 | -0.16 | -0.73 | -1.33 | -2.31 | -2.04 |
Cohens d score of +/- 0.2 is considered a small difference between the groups, +/- 0.5 is considered moderate and a greater than +/- 0.8 is considered large difference between the groups. To be statistically significant the p value must be 0.05 or less so a 0.006 significance is 50 times more significant that the threshold.
NovoTHOR Whole Body PBM Therapy is a real benefit for patients suffering from this debilitating condition, and PBM Therapy is a safe and drug free way to help Fibromyalgia sufferers.
Our PBM Therapy Clinic has the enviable position of having one of the few whole body NovoTHOR PBM Therapy light beds in the UK. There are only a few hundred of these globally and less than 15 in the UK. We are easy to get to as we are in the centre of the country, close to motorways, train links and airports.
To read more just search the site and watch the videos on our PBM Therapy You Tube channel. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us on 01332 224829.
Authors note: Our clinical experience of using our NovoTHOR for patients with chronic symptoms/Fibromyalgia is that some stay well for a long time after a course, and some can slip backwards. For those for whom the improvements don’t last we find that their improvements can be better maintained with periodic ‘maintenance’ or top up treatments. In these cases we aim to get your ‘top up’ sessions as far apart as is possible, but ultimately how long and how often you choose to benefit from PBM Therapy is always up to you.
Finally we also need more RCT data with more patients from more centres that have NovoTHOR light beds, but due to their scarcity, this may take some time.