Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as a Therapeutic Option for Patients with Fibromyalgia

This narrative review has briefly outlined the mechanisms of action underlying the therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). It was designed to provide researchers and healthcare professionals with a broad overview of the benefits and potential drawbacks of using HBO in FM patients.

For this review, we searched PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar databases for articles published between 2000 and 2023, using the following search terms: "hyperbaric oxygen therapy", "fibromyalgia", and "physical exercise".

In total, more than 90 publications were retrieved, 45 of which were analyzed in depth. The majority of the studies retrieved were of an observational design, whereas there were only a few randomized trials and very few reviews. Based on the compiled literature, there is further support for the hypothesis that reduced oxygen availability may be at the origin of the structural degeneration observed in the muscles of FM patients. In the absence of a universally accepted cure for FM, the therapeutic approach must be multidisciplinary and multimodal. It should be noted that many questions remain unanswered. What is the optimal dose-response range, duration of treatment, and associated economic cost? Larger controlled trials are needed to determine the exact role of HBO as an adjuvant therapy for FM patients.

Based on the published literature, repeated exposure to HBO may be a promising therapeutic adjunct for FM patients. However, more clinical research is needed before HBO can be established as a reliable approach for FM patients.