Members of the Biobarica Network, have developed a pioneering research to evaluate the application of hyperbaric oxygen in fibromyalgia patients to relieve pain and improve their quality of life. 

 

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a challenge in the clinical field due to its chronic manifestation of pain, which has a significant impact on patient's daily lives. Dr. Chirivella and his team have developed pioneering research to find a new therapeutic pathway to address this complex condition.

 

Fibromyalgia, characterized by chronic pain affecting multiple areas of the body, not only generates physical discomfort, but also impacts crucial aspects of the patient's life, including the ability to work, family and social relationships, and overall quality of life. Recognizing that how individuals cope with pain may be determinant in their experience of pain, the research team focused on psychological constructs related to pain, such as perceived pain intensity, pain-associated catastrophizing, pain acceptance, inflexibility in the face of pain, and a sense of mental defeat.

 

To evaluate the effects of low-pressure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) on these psychological constructs and the quality of life of fibromyalgia patients, a rigorous randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted. In this study, thirty-three women were randomly assigned to a group that received HBOT for 8 weeks, with five weekly sessions, while another group was maintained as a control.

 

The results obtained were revealing. At the end of the treatment, the group undergoing Hyperbaric Oxygen showed significant improvements in all variables related to pain and quality of life, while the control group showed no improvement in any of these areas. This finding suggests that low-pressure HBOT may have a positive impact on how fibromyalgia patients perceive and manage their pain, as well as on their overall wellness.

Importantly, this study represents a significant milestone in the field of fibromyalgia and hyperbaric medicine, as it is the first to describe the effect of a non-psychological intervention, such as HBOT, on psychological constructs considered as determinants of patients' quality of life. The results obtained support the efficacy of low-pressure Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy as a promising therapeutic tool to improve pain management in women with fibromyalgia.

 

In conclusion, the findings of the study led by Dr. Chirivella, Dr. Izquierdo-Alventosa, and the team underline the potential of HBOT as an innovative and effective therapeutic intervention in the comprehensive approach to fibromyalgia, offering new perspectives to improve the quality of life of those suffering from this complex disease.

 

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