A type of spa therapy known as balneotherapy has been shown to be both safe and effective in reducing pain in patients with primary fibromyalgia, as demonstrated by a clinical trial.

Findings were reported in the study “Is balneotherapy effective for fibromyalgia? Results from a 6-month double-blind randomized clinical trial,” published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology.

Fibromyalgia is linked to persistent widespread pain, fatigue, and tenderness in specific areas of the body known as tender points. The management of the condition typically involves a combination of approaches, including both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. These may include hot and cold therapies, patient education, physical rehabilitation, and balneotherapy. Balneotherapy involves immersing the patient in mineralized and/or thermal waters from natural springs.

Previous clinical trials have indicated that balneotherapy can improve pain and tender point counts, with effects lasting three to six months. Researchers have also found that balneotherapy is well-tolerated and causes fewer side effects than pharmacological treatments. However, some aspects of these studies were limited and may have led to bias.

Conducted in Italy, this prospective, randomized, double-blind study investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of balneotherapy with highly mineralized sulfate water in primary fibromyalgia patients.Read more here