SPA therapy in fibromyalgia: a randomised controlled clinic study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of spa therapy in the management of fibromyalgia.


METHODS
Thirty women with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to either a spa therapy group or a control group. The spa therapy group (n = 16) had spa treatment for 2 weeks in addition to their medical treatment. The control group (n = 14) continued to have their medical treatment and/or daily exercises. An investigator who was blinded for the intervention assessed all the patients for 9 months. Improvements in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), pain and number of tender points were primary outcomes. Secondary outcome measures were improvement in sleep disturbance, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, Beck Depression Inventory and patient's global evaluation.


RESULTS
the spa group was found to be superior to the control group at the end of intervention in terms of FIQ, pain, tender point count, fatigue and patients' global assessment. This superiority remained for 6 months in FIQ, 1 month in pain and tender point count.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that the addition of spa therapy to medical therapy has both short- and long-term beneficial effects in female patients with fibromyalgia.
Dönmez
Arif
A
Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. donmeza@istanbul.edu.tr
Karagülle
M Zeki
MZ
Tercan
Nuran
N
Dinler
Mustafa
M
Işsever
Halim
H
Karagülle
Mine
M
Turan
Mustafa
M
D000328:Adult; D001452:Balneology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome