How effective is hydrotherapy at treating fibromyalgia?
-
Celeste Cooper answered:The jury is still out on the benefits of hydrotherapy in treating fibromyalgia. Some patients benefit and some do not. According the Langhorst, et al. the short term benefits are only moderate.
Because of comorbid myofascial pain syndrome as a peripheral pain generator to amplification of pain in the brain, fibromyalgia, warm water hydrotherapy such as the massaging motion from a hot tub, make be of greater benefit. Warm water exercise, on the other hand, can activate latent myofascial trigger points, https://thesethree.com/Myofascial_Pain.html# MTPs because resistance is minimal in water. Warm water is always suggested regardless because of the cold intolerance associated with fibromyalgia.
Langhorst J, Musial F, Klose P, Häuser W. Efficacy of hydrotherapy in fibromyalgia syndrome--a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Thematology (Oxford) 2009 Sep;48(9):1155-9. Epub 2009 Jul 16.
All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press and are not meant to replace medical advice. http://www.thesethree.com
Author of Chapter Five, Living with and Coping Effectively Through Fibromyalgia: Detecting Barriers, Understanding the Clues, in Fibromyalgia Insider Secrets: 10 Top Experts, 2nd Ed. Ebook complied by Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD http://www.fibromyalgiainsidersecrets.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=121_0_1_59
Find out more about this book: Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofa...
The jury is still out on the benefits of hydrotherapy in treating fibromyalgia. Some patients benefit and some do not. According the Langhorst, et al. the short term benefits are only moderate. Because of comorbid myofascial pain syndrome as a... More
