What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is chronic pain, diffused and generalized disease. In some cases, the patient presents a decreased cardiorespiratory capacity, vegetative disorders, and alterations in biological rhythms which end up affecting the cardiac regularity. All these factors generate constant fatigue and an inefficient repair of the muscle fibers generating pain and impoverishing the quality of life of those who suffer it. The main symptoms are constant pain, sleep disorders, rigidity, and inflammation in hands and feet. Also fatigue, headaches, irritable bowel, dryness in the mouth and eyes, anxiety and depression. 

Nowadays, no medical and scientific evidence has yet been found that can explain the reasons why a person may suffer from fibromyalgia. However, it is considered that factors such as genetics, infections, or physical traumas may influence the disease. 

Why does hyperbaric oxygen treatment help people who suffer from fibromyalgia?

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment makes the body enter in a hyperoxia state, in other words, there is an increase of oxygen in the blood that allows the cells that were receiving oxygen deficiently to begin to receive it adequately. Consequently, the pain points reduce because of the analgesic action and the muscle fibers regenerate faster, decreasing considerably the muscle fatigue.  

When the cells oxygenate better, the muscle regeneration improves and allows two things: reduce inflammation and fiber regeneration’s improvement is better. Also, lessens muscle fatigue.

The pain is reduced by the increase of blood flow to the central nervous system.

Therefore, hyperbaric chamber treatment significantly improves the quality of life of fibromyalgia patients and doesn’t attack other processes on the body because no drugs are administered to the patient.

Another important point to note is that, even though not all patients present a depression and anxiety condition, there is research that indicates that patients who received hyperbaric oxygen treatment decreased their catastrophic and depressive thoughts.

Researches prove the efficiency of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy in fibromyalgia patients.

A pilot study made by a group of professionals reveals that hyperbaric chambers improve the condition of that disease and benefit the quality of life of those who suffer it.

A group of women with fibromyalgia were divided randomly into three groups. The first group was prescribed hyperbaric oxygenation therapy with Revitalair 430 chamber. It indicated an amount of 40 sessions, which means 5 sessions per week, of 90 minutes at 1.45 ATA.

The second group did a low-intensity workout. They did a total of 16 sessions of 60 minutes each in 8 weeks. The goal was to reduce fatigue, pain, improve resistance and the aerobic workout. 

The last group did not receive any type of treatment or medication. 

Conclusions:

The research revealed that those who were treated with hyperbaric oxygenation reduced notably the fatigue and pain perceived in rest. This may be due to an increased oxygen supply to the musculoskeletal system, which activates cellular activity(for example, increases adenosine triphosphate synthesis)  and promotes the metabolisms of substances related to fatigue. 

Regarding pain, it is estimated that thanks to the Hyperbaric Oxygenation Treatment at low pressure, there is a stimulation of blood vessels due to the oxygen in the blood and it promotes the recovery of the tissues decreasing hypoxia.

Moreover, the fiscal resistance enhanced like the workout. The exercise program did not improve pain or fatigue, but they did obtain significant improvements in pain thresholds as a result of pressure on some of the sensitive points.

On the other hand, it was detected in the Hyperbaric Oxygenation Treatment that cortical excitability has not improved.

The group who did not do any treatment presented a significant rise of the cardiac frequency to 12,31 pulsations after eight weeks which may be associated with the aggravation of symptomatology in these patients.

Although both treatments could be effective for fibromyalgia, the oxygenation hyperbaric therapy at low pressure presents more effectiveness of reduction of fatigue and pain in comparison to the low-intensity workout that only improves the pain pressure threshold in some muscles at rest and physical endurance.

The hyperbaric oxygenation therapy with Revitalair 430 chamber is a no invasive option to reduce pain and improve the life quality of patients who suffer from fibromyalgia.

 

Bibliography:

• Izquierdo-Alventosa, R., Inglés, M., Cortés-Amador, S., Gimeno-Mallench, L., Sempere-Rubio, N., Chirivella, J., & Serra-Añó, P. (2020). Comparative study of the effectiveness of a low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen treatment and physical exercise in women with fibromyalgia: randomized clinical trial. Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/1759720X20930493
• https://www.biobarica.com/en/patients/news/fibromyalgia-a-condition-characterised-by-fatigue-chronic-pain-and-sleep-disturbances-lHuJPxl0Zl1ofnct0VjD/