Using microcurrent therapy to help manage fibromyalgia pain

Microcurrent for Fibromyalgia, a Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study

Not applicable Interventional Mike O'Callaghan Military Hospital · NCT04949100

This study is testing if a new treatment called microcurrent therapy can help people with fibromyalgia manage their pain and improve their quality of life.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 74 Years
SexAll
SponsorMike O'Callaghan Military Hospital Federal
Locations1 site (Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada)
Trial IDNCT04949100 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This exploratory randomized trial investigates the effectiveness of microcurrent therapy for patients with fibromyalgia, focusing on its impact on generalized pain and quality of life. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active microcurrent treatment or a placebo, with a double-blind design to ensure unbiased results. The study aims to determine if microcurrent therapy can be self-administered as an adjunct to existing pain management strategies. Extensive subgroup analyses will be conducted to identify specific conditions under which microcurrent therapy may be most effective.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include active duty military personnel or DoD beneficiaries aged 18-74 who meet the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia.

Not a fit: Patients with peripheral neuropathy, severe psychological disorders, or those who are pregnant may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could provide fibromyalgia patients with a new, self-administered option for pain relief.

How similar studies have performed: While microcurrent therapy is a relatively novel approach for fibromyalgia, similar studies exploring electrical stimulation techniques have shown promise in managing chronic pain.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
\*\*Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study\*\*

Inclusion Criteria:

* Male and female Active Duty or DoD beneficiary aged 18-74 years old.
* Meets diagnostic criteria of fibromyalgia as defined by the American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria 1,18 to be consistent with prior research.
* Symptom duration of at least 3 months
* Tender points: having \>10/18 tender points
* Pain-affected areas includes all quadrants of the body
* Other causes excluded clinically
* History of a neck injury sometime in their life

Exclusion Criteria:

* Peripheral neuropathy
* Pregnancy
* History of:

  * Brain/spine surgery
  * Nerve entrapment surgery
  * Severe bony deformities or contracture
  * Hypersensitive reaction to the surface electrode
  * Severe psychological disorders
  * Current alcohol or drug abuse. (caveat: medical marijuana is permitted)
* Active infections
* Active cancer
* Cardiac arrhythmias (If yes, please list _____________)
* Received an organ transplant
* Pacemakers and electrically implanted electronic devices
* Subjects scheduled for surgery will not be eligible to participate in thisstudy until 6 weeks post-surgery.

Where this trial is running

Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Fibromyalgiachronic painmicrocurrent
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.