Outcome

Low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was uniquely successful in significantly reducing perceived pain and induced fatigue in women with fibromyalgia compared to a physical exercise program and a control group. Both HBOT and physical exercise improved pressure pain threshold endurance functional capacity and physical performance although neither treatment showed significant changes in cortical excitability.

Introduction

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic pain and persistent fatigue presenting challenges in identifying treatments that do not exacerbate these symptoms. This study examines the effects of low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on fibromyalgia comparing it to a physical exercise program. Conducted with 49 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia participants were divided into three groups: a physical exercise group (PEG) a low-pressure HBOT group (HBG) and a control group (CG). Evaluations were made on perceived pain fatigue pressure pain threshold endurance functional capacity physical performance and cortical excitability before and after the interventions. The findings revealed that while both HBOT and physical exercise improved pressure pain threshold endurance functional capacity and physical performance only the HBOT group showed significant improvements in perceived pain and induced fatigue. However neither treatment showed significant changes in cortical excitability. This study suggests that low-pressure HBOT offers unique benefits for managing fibromyalgia symptoms particularly in reducing pain and fatigue.

Results

The study investigated the effects of low-pressure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and a physical exercise program on women with fibromyalgia. Forty-nine participants were divided into three groups: the Hyperbaric Group (HBG) undergoing HBOT the Physical Exercise Group (PEG) and a Control Group (CG).

The primary outcomes measured were perceived pain induced fatigue pressure pain threshold endurance functional capacity physical performance and cortical excitability. The HBG showed significant improvements in perceived pain and induced fatigue compared to both the PEG and CG. This suggests that HBOT is particularly effective in managing these challenging symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Additionally both the HBG and PEG demonstrated significant enhancements in pressure pain threshold endurance functional capacity and physical performance. These improvements were notable indicating that both treatments can contribute positively to the physical aspects of fibromyalgia management.

Interestingly no significant changes in cortical excitability were observed in any of the groups suggesting that neither HBOT nor the physical exercise program affects this specific aspect of neural functioning in fibromyalgia patients.

Overall the findings suggest that low-pressure HBOT is particularly beneficial for reducing perceived pain and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia while also supporting improvements in other physical performance parameters. Physical exercise similarly aids in physical performance enhancements albeit with less impact on perceived pain and fatigue. These results underline the potential of low-pressure HBOT as a valuable addition to fibromyalgia treatment strategies particularly for symptoms where traditional exercise regimens may fall short.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study demonstrates that low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) significantly alleviates perceived pain and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia (FM) compared to a physical exercise program and a control group. While both HBOT and physical exercise yielded improvements in pressure pain threshold endurance functional capacity and physical performance neither intervention influenced cortical excitability. The unique efficacy of HBOT in reducing pain and fatigue offers a promising therapeutic option for managing fibromyalgia symptoms addressing two of the most challenging aspects of this condition. These findings underscore the potential of HBOT as a complementary treatment enriching current approaches and potentially enhancing the quality of life for individuals with FM. Future research should explore the long-term effects of HBOT and its underlying mechanisms to further substantiate its role in fibromyalgia management.