The report summarises current evidence for practitioner-based complementary therapies that are commonly used to treat rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and low back pain. The report found a lack of scientific evidence to support the use of most of the twenty-five therapies considered. Each therapy was scored according to its effectiveness on a scale of one to five, based on published data from clinical trials. Effectiveness was measured in terms of improvements in pain, disability or quality of life. In addition the safety of each therapy was graded as green, amber or red.

The therapies that were shown to be the most effective were: acupuncture for osteoarthritis (scored 5), low back pain (4) and fibromyalgia (4); massage for fibromyalgia (5) and low back pain (5); tai chi for osteoarthritis (4); and yoga for back pain (4).

(http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/news/press-releases/2013/january/new-report-on-complementary-therapies-for-arthritis-reveals-lack-of-scientific-evidence.aspx).