Aug 31

Hydrotherapy for Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Hydrotherapy is useful in managing Fibromyalgia Syndrome (Fibro), according to a recently e-published study from researchers at the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Institute at the University of Ulster. [1]

The researchers carried out a systematic review of the published results of previous trials to examine the effectiveness of hydrotherapy in the management of Fibro. [1] A number of databases of scientific articles (AMED, BNI, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science) were searched for articles published between 1990 and July 2006 that contained the keywords: 'fibromyalgia' and 'hydrotherapy', 'balneotherapy', 'aqua therapy', 'pool therapy', 'water therapy', 'swimming', 'hydrogalvanic', 'spa therapy', 'physiotherapy', 'physical therapy' and 'rehabilitation'. [1]

The randomised controlled trials (RCTs) found in the search were then assessed for methodological quality using the van Tulder scale and 10 RCTs were found that met the inclusion criteria. [1]

These 10 RCTS showed that the use of hydrotherapy as a treatment for Fibro caused positive outcomes to be reported for pain, health-status and tender point count. [1]

The researchers concluded that:

"There is strong evidence for the use of hydrotherapy in the management of [Fibromyalgia Syndrome]". [1]

The EULAR evidence based recommendations for the management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome recommend that

"Heated pool treatment, with or without exercise, is effective." [2]

References:

  1. McVeigh JG, McGaughey H, Hall M, Kane P. The effectiveness of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review. Rheumatol Int. 2008 Aug 27. [Epub ahead of print]
  2. Carville SF, Arendt-Nielsen S, Bliddal H, Blotman F, Branco JC, Buskila D, Da Silva JA, Danneskiold-Samsøe B, Dincer F, Henriksson C, Henriksson KG, Kosek E, Longley K, McCarthy GM, Perrot S, Puszczewicz M, Sarzi-Puttini P, Silman A, Späth M, Choy EH; EULAR. EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Apr;67(4):536-41. Epub 2007 Jul 20.