Digital rehabilitation interventions for Fibromyalgia: A scoping review
Elisa Bullón-Benito1, María Alcalá-Cerrillo2, Paloma Guillén-Rogel3
1Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive-emotional symptoms. Digital health interventions may help improve access to care and support self-management.
Objectives:
To map the characteristics, delivery formats, outcomes, and assessment instruments of digital health interventions for adults with fibromyalgia.
Methods:
The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched in February 2026. Eligible studies evaluated digital interventions in adults (≥18 years) with fibromyalgia. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. A descriptive synthesis was conducted to map intervention characteristics, delivery modes, outcome domains, and assessment instruments.
Results:
Twenty-nine studies published between 2010 and 2025 were included. Four intervention categories were identified: emotional or behavioural programmes, exercise-based telerehabilitation, self-management or educational interventions, and multicomponent programmes. Interventions were delivered asynchronously (n = 16), synchronously (n = 8), or using hybrid formats (n = 3). The most frequently assessed outcomes were pain, fibromyalgia impact, fatigue, sleep, psychological variables, and physical functioning. Overall, digital interventions were associated with favourable physical and psychosocial outcomes. More consistent benefits were reported for supervised interventions, particularly exercise-based telerehabilitation and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-based programmes, whereas unguided app-based interventions showed more variable findings.
Conclusions:
Digital interventions appear to be a promising approach for supporting rehabilitation and symptom management in fibromyalgia. However, substantial heterogeneity in intervention characteristics, delivery modes, outcome measures, and study designs remains. Greater standardisation, longer follow-up periods, and more rigorous studies are needed.