Yildiz

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces muscle tenderness and raises pain threshold in patients suffering from fibromyalgia.

Clinical bottom line:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduced pain and tenderness in patients with fibromyalgia.

Citation/s:Yildiz S, Kiralp MZ, Akin A, Keskin, I, Ay H, Dursun H, Cimsit M. A new treatment modality for fibromyalgia syndrome: hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Journal of International Medical Research 2004; 32: 263-267. Lead author's name and fax: S Yildiz . Email: [| senolyildiz@hotmail.com]

Three-part Clinical Question: For patients with fibromyalgia, does the administration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, compared to no specific therapy, result in improvement in symptoms? Search Terms: Algometer; Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy; Fibromyalgia; Pain Threshold The Study:Double-blinded randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat. The Study Patients: Patients with FMS according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Control group (N = 24; 24 analysed): Air breathing at 2.4 ATA for 90 minutes daily, Monday to Friday to a total of 15 sessions. Experimental group (N = 26; 26 analysed): 100% oxygen at 2.4 ATA on the schedule.

The Evidence:

Outcomes after 15 sessions Sham Group HBO Group Difference 95% CI
^ Mean SD Mean SD ^ ^
Number of tender points 12.54 1.1 6.04 1.18 6.50 5.85 to 7.15
Pain threshold (units unknown) 0.84 0.12 1.33 0.12 -0.49 -0.56 to -0.42
Pain (VAS 1-100) 55.42 6.58 31.54 8.34 23.88 19.58 to 28.18

Comments: 1. Outcomes measured only to completion of treatment, no insight into longer-term effects. 2. Other treatment options for FMS were not discussed. 3. Pain and tenderness were the only symptoms measured; no consideration of other FMS symptoms (e.g. fatigue, sleep disturbance, irritable bowel syndrome, stiffness, swelling). 4. No information given on baseline patient characteristics.

Appraised by: Amy Gibbens and Mike Bennett, Dept of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney.; Wednesday, 18 July 2007 Email: amy.gibbens@student.unsw.edu.au, [| m.bennett@unsw.edu.au] Kill or Update By: June 2020

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