Bravo (2023) Aquatic therapy improves self-reported sleep quality in fibromyalgia patients

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of aquatic therapy for FM, focusing on outcomes such as sleep quality, pain, psychological symptoms, and health status.

The analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1,722 participants. Results indicated that aquatic therapy improved sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), though the results were not statistically significant due to high heterogeneity among studies. Improvements in pain reduction were noted with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of −5.04 (p = 0.02), favoring aquatic therapy over control interventions. Secondary benefits included enhanced psychological well-being, reduced fatigue, and improved overall quality of life.

Aquatic therapy sessions utilized the therapeutic properties of water, such as buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure, combined with warm water immersion (26–32 °C), to promote relaxation and reduce pain perception. These interventions allowed for low-impact, safe exercise, facilitating better engagement in physical activity compared to land-based methods.

The study underscores the potential of aquatic therapy as an adjunct to standard FM management, while emphasizing the need for further research to establish long-term efficacy and refine intervention protocols.