Fibromyalgia control points

Journal/Book: Aus: Rehab in Review Vol.6 No.6 1998. Physikalische Medizin Heft 5 8. Jahrgang Oktober 1998 M 62. 1998;

Abstract: Wolfe F.: What use are fibromyalgia control points? J. Rheum. 25 (1998) 546-550 Fibromyalgia (FM) control points are normally non-tender points used in the assessment of FM. This study sought to assess the usefullness of negative control points in evaluating patients with FM. Eighty-four patients diagnosed with FM at an outpatients rheumatology clinic were evaluated over an 18 month period. Tender point and dolorimetry examinations were completed at 18 active and four control points. All patients completed questionnaires to assess fatigue sleep disturbance anxiety depression global FM severity pain functional disability and distress. These tests were used to compare patients with versus those without positive control points. The results revealed that tenderness over at least one FM control point was a common finding in the FM group (63.1 %) and was associated with increased FM symptoms and increased in Rheumatology Distress Index (RDI) scores (p=0.016). An increased number of control points was not however significantly related to increased severity of symptoms. In addition dolorimetry scores were not found to be particularly useful in assessing disease severity. Conclusion: This study of 84 patients with FM suggests that the presence of positive control points may be a marker for a decreased pain threshold but are not useful in disqualifying the diagnosis nor in quantifying the severity of the FM symptoms. schö

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