Low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen treatment and physical exercise in women with fibromyalgia: randomized clinical trial
There are anecdotal reports of fibromyalgia patients experiencing relief from pain and fatigue following a course of low-pressure HBOT; researchers (June, 2020) have recently provided empirical evidence to support such accounts. Izquierdo-Alventosa et. al performed a small randomized clinical trial investigating the impact of low-pressure hyperbarics relative to physical exercise, and a no-treatment control. In general, the study found that both HBOT and exercise groups experienced improved pressure pain threshold, endurance and functional capacity, as well as physical performance. However, the HBOT group experienced a benefit not experienced by any other group: significant improvements in induced fatigue and perceived pain at rest. Is this the perfect study? No. Indeed, most studies have limitations. For example, the baseline measures of the control group matched post-treatment levels in the active treatment groups. Of course the study is also underpowered. Nonetheless, what is particularly interesting is added benefit of HBOT beyond the exercise group. We hope to see a larger clinical trial from this group, that employs a crossover design that is longitudinal in nature. mHBOT world, these results are still very promising!
Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1759720X20930493#abstract
Izquierdo-Alventosa, R., Inglés, M., Cortés-Amador, S., Gimeno-Mallench, L., Sempere-Rubio, N., Chirivella, J., & Serra-Añó, P. (2020). Comparative study of the effectiveness of a low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen treatment and physical exercise in women with fibromyalgia: randomized clinical trial. Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease, 12, 1759720X20930493.
