Maindet (2021) Spa Therapy for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia An Open, Randomized Multicenter Trial
Summary: The Impact of Spa Therapy on Fibromyalgia – A Clinical Trial
Introduction
Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, affects many individuals worldwide. An open randomized clinical trial conducted in France focused on the efficacy of spa therapy in treating fibromyalgia. This study enrolled 220 patients, assigning them to either immediate or delayed 18-day spa therapy treatments while continuing their usual care. The primary objective was to evaluate improvements in fibromyalgia impact questionnaire scores after six months.
Methodology
Spa therapy, often prescribed for chronic painful conditions like osteoarthritis in Europe, combines hydrothermal treatments with physiotherapy and education. The study randomized patients who had experienced a recent coronary artery disease (CAD) event into water-based or land-based exercise groups or a control group. The impact of these interventions on heart rate variability (HRV) was a particular focus.
Findings
After six months, the success rate, defined as a more than 14% decrease in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) scores, was significantly higher in the spa therapy group compared to the control group. The improvement ranged from 15% to over 45% in the spa therapy group, indicating a substantial benefit from the intervention.
Secondary Outcomes
The secondary endpoints included a significant change in the FIQ score over six months, favoring the spa therapy group. This difference was statistically significant, with an effect size of 0.49, indicating the effectiveness of spa therapy in improving the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Safety Profile
The study reported 33 serious adverse events (SAEs) by 25 patients. These events ranged from fibromyalgia-related issues to trauma and surgery-related incidents. However, none of these events were directly linked to the spa therapy, suggesting a favorable safety profile for this intervention.
Keyphrase: Spa Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Keywords: Fibromyalgia, Spa Therapy, Clinical Trial, Chronic Pain, Heart Rate Variability, Health Outcomes, Safety Profile, Treatment Efficacy, Quality of Life, Rehabilitation
