SUMMARY
Terry H. Oh, M.D., has research interests in fibromyalgia and inclusion body myositis (IBM). Her goal is to improve function and quality of life in patients with these conditions.
Focus areas
- Studying barriers and needs in weight management for obese patients with fibromyalgia
- Developing a weight management module that can be offered in conjunction with the current fibromyalgia treatment program
- Studying factors affecting symptoms and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia
- Studying leg bracing options in patients with IBM to evaluate which leg braces work well for them
Significance to patient care
The prevalence of obesity is higher in patients with fibromyalgia than the general population, and about half of our patients are obese. Dr. Oh and her colleagues found that obesity was associated with increased fibromyalgia symptoms and lower levels of quality of life.
She and her group would like to identify barriers, needs and preferences for weight management in obese patients with fibromyalgia. They plan to use the data from the study to design a patient-centered weight management module specifically for patients with fibromyalgia.
IBM is a chronic progressive disease that results in severe weakness and disability. Falls are common in patients with IBM. Dr. Oh would like to perform a study comparing different types of braces to identify a brace that works well for patients with IBM.