Improving fibromyalgia symptoms in women : hyperbaric oxygen therapy vs conventional treatment

Abstract

An overview of the topic: Fibromyalgia syndrome is a condition that affects mainly women and is characterized by multiple symptoms, including widespread pain. Conventional treatment for this condition includes pharmacological treatment, physical exercise, and phycological therapy. In recent years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has proven an improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms. Therefore, this dissertation compares the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy versus conventional treatment in improving fibromyalgia symptoms. The research question: Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy improve the symptoms of women with fibromyalgia syndrome compared with conventional treatment? The PICO elements: Population = women with fibromyalgia; intervention = hyperbaric oxygen therapy; comparison = conventional treatment; outcome = improvement of fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms. Method: Exhaustive research of current literature was carried out using databases available at the University of Malta and Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Google Scholar. Key terms and alternative terms for the PICO elements were established. Different search tools were used, including Boolean operators and truncations. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were also established, such as including studies published from 2011 to 2021, in which only adult female participants were recruited. For the appraisal of the studies, the Critical Appraisal Skill Programme was used. Results: Three randomized controlled trials were chosen to be part of this dissertation. The three studies conclude that hyperbaric oxygen therapy results in a greater improvement of fibromyalgia symptoms in women compared to conventional treatment. However, all the studies showed some limitations that could affect the results. Implications and recommendations: To improve future practice, more education should be provided regarding fibromyalgia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Moreover, the hospital management should develop guidelines available to the multidisciplinary team. However, further research is needed to confirm the findings of the trials and improve future practice, education, and management.