What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a prospective, active control, crossover clinical trial to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on symptoms and brain activity in 60 female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
What They Found
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) significantly ameliorated all fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) symptoms and improved quality of life in 60 female patients. Patients underwent 40 sessions of 100% oxygen at 2ATA, leading to notable improvements in physical examination, tender point count, and pain threshold.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with fibromyalgia syndrome, these findings suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a promising non-pharmacological treatment option. It may offer relief from chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, potentially improving their overall quality of life.
Canadian Relevance
This study did not include Canadian participants or researchers, and therefore has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's findings may be limited by its specific patient population of 60 female patients and the absence of long-term follow-up data.