Shock therapy for pain? rTMS shows promise for fibromyalgia
NCT ID NCT01308801
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding a gentle brain stimulation technique called rTMS to standard exercise therapy could reduce pain in people with fibromyalgia. Forty-two adults with long-term pain took part, receiving either real or fake rTMS alongside exercise for 14 weeks. Researchers measured pain levels, quality of life, and mood to see if the combination worked better than exercise alone.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a non-drug way to ease chronic pain and improve daily life for people with fibromyalgia.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 42 people. Results may not apply to everyone, and the effect might be modest or temporary.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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42 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Apr 2011
- Finished
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Sep 2015
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * primary fibromyalgia according to the American College of Rheumatology * no contraindication to rehabilitation exercise * pain with VAS \> 4 during at least six months * FIQ score \> 50 * no change in drug therapy over the last month * affiliation to French Health Service Exclusion Criteria: * BMI \> 35kg/m² * patient who has already benefited from rTMS * rTMS contraindication * restless legs symptom * patient suffering from major depression * patient suffering from inflammatory rheumatism, autoimmune disease, other chronic pain pathology * sleep apnea syndrome * no contraindication to rTMS or MRI * pregnant women
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
CHU de Grenoble
Grenoble, Isère, 38043, France
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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