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Music and Health Research Collaboratory Faculty of Music, University of Toronto RESEARCH BRIEF STUDY: The Effect of Low Frequency Sound Stimulation on Patients with Fibromyalgia:
A Clinical Study
STUDY TEAM: Co-­‐PI’s: Dr. Lili Naghdi, Heidi Ahonen, PhD, Lee Bartel PhD. Team Member: Dr. Pasqualino Macario.
STUDY DESIGN: Open label -­‐ 19 participants with Fibromyalgia (FM) receive 10 sessions over 5 weeks of somatosensory sound stimulation (23 minutes at 40Hz sine wave) with Nexneuro lounge. Outcome measures: FM Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS), Pain Disability Index (PDI), range of motion, muscle tone, and self-­‐report. FUNDING: Self-­‐funded plus $1200 from Univ of Laurier. STATUS: Completed – report paper accepted by Journal of Pain Management. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed with median scores: FIQ 81% (p=
<.0001), JSS 90% (p= <0.0001), PDI 49.1% (p= <.0001). Medication dose was reduced
in 73.68% and totally discontinued in 26.32%. Time sitting and standing without pain
increased significantly (p= <0.0001).
Cervical muscle range of motion
increased from of 25% to 75% (p=
0.001), while muscle tone changed
from hypertonic to normal (p=
0.0002).
NEXT STEPS: (1) Conduct RCT at Wasser Pain Management Centre. (2) Conduct neuroimaging study with MEG to determine mechanism. FUNDING REQUIRED: Step 1 – Partially Funded with Connaught funds ($50,000) for ½ time Post Doc for 2 years. Research costs of $10,000 still to be obtained. Step 2. – 2 year Post doc plus MEG research costs -­‐ $150,000.