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Fibromyalgia, formerly known in the medical literature as "fibrositis" or "fibromyositis", is a rheumatologic disorder or syndrome (a constellation of symptoms) characterized primarily by persistent fatigue and widespread, long-standing musculoskeletal pain lasting 3 months or longer that originates from tendons, ligaments, bursae and muscle tissue, but without inflammation. Most people with fibromyalgia also experience disruptive sleep patterns as well as generalized stiffness (particularly in the morning). Fibromyalgia is thought to be a multifactorial syndrome characterized in part by abnormal central sensory processing of pain signals.

It has been estimated that fibromyalgia affects about 2% to 3% of the general population in the United States or about 6 to 9 million people. Fibromyalgia occurs most commonly in women (80% to 90% of cases) between the ages of 35 to 60, however, it can also affect men, children, and the elderly.

The chronic, widespread pain that is characteristic of fibromyalgia is usually localized to areas of the body known as tender points. This is important because these tender points serve as a basis for diagnosing fibromyalgia. When gentle digital pressure (palpation) is applied to various tender points of a patient with fibromyalgia, the patient reacts with an exaggerated pain response that is out of proportion to the gentle digital pressure that is applied to the area. Examples of tender points that can elicit significant pain on gentle palpation in people with fibromyalgia include:

• Occiput - the back of the head
• Low cervical (neck) region
• Trapezius - muscles in the shoulder and upper back that help move the shoulders and arms
• Supraspinatus - muscles that are responsible for lifting the arm and moving it away from the body
• Second rib region
• Lateral epicondyle of the elbows - a projection of bone that serves as a point of attachment of muscles and ligaments to the elbow
• Gluteal (buttocks) region
• Greater trochanter - a large bony process located at the proximal end of the femur (thigh bone) that serves as the site of attachment for muscles that stabilize the hip
• Knee region