Contribution of Balneotherapy in Fibromyalgia Patients Receiving Conventional Physical Therapy

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the role of applying additional balneotherapy to fibromyalgia patients while receiving conventional physical therapy. Materials and Methods: 107 female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia for the first time were studied in two groups. Group 1 included patients receiving Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and physical therapy modalities, including superficial hot and therapeutic ultrasounds. Patients in Group 2 received balneotherapy in addition to the therapeutic modalities given to the first group. All patients went through a 10-session treatment program. The evaluation was based on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Quality of Life Short Form-36 (SF-36) before and after the treatment. The total amount of paracetamol tablets consumed was also recorded. Results: There were significant recovery in post-treatment pain VAS, FIQ, and PSQI scores in both groups, compared to before treatment, but the improvements were more pronounced after the balneotherapy. The drug consumption was also significantly lower, and patients treated with balneotherapy expressed better general health and social function scores of SF-36. Conclusion: A combination of balneotherapy with conventional physical modalities appears to be an effective treatment option for fibromyalgia as it positively contributes to the patient's pain, functional status, quality of life and sleep, and drug consumption.

Keywords

• pain
• quality of life
• drug consumption
• cronic fatigue
• balneology

Konvansiyonel Fizik Tedavi Alan Fibromiyalji Hastalarında Balneoterapinin Katkısı

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, konvansiyonel fizik tedavi alan fibromiyalji hastalarında balneoterapinin fonksiyonel iyileşme, ağrı, uyku ve yaşam kalitesi ile ilaç tüketimi üzerindeki katkısının araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Araçlar ve Yöntem: İlk kez fibromiyalji tanısı alan 107 kadın hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastalar transkutanöz elektriksel sinir stimülasyonu, yüzeyel sıcak ve terapötik ultrason içeren fizik tedavi modaliteleri uygulanan (grup1) ve balneoterapi ile birlikte birinci gruba verilen fizik tedavi modaliteleri uygulanan (grup 2) olmak üzere ikiye ayrıldı. Tüm hastalara 10 seans tedavi programı uygulandı. Tedavi öncesi ve sonrası Fibromiyalji Etki Anketi (FEA), Vizüel analog skala (VAS), Pittsburg Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi (PUKİ), Yaşam kalitesi Kısa Form-36 (KF-36) kullanılarak değerlendirmeler yapıldı. Hastaların tükettikleri toplam parasetamol tablet miktarı da ayrıca kaydedildi. Bulgular: Her iki grupta, tedavi öncesine göre tedavi sonrası ağrı VAS, FEA ve PUKİ skorlarında anlamlı düzelme saptanırken balneoterapi alan hastalarda daha anlamlı iyileşme saptandı. Balneoterapi grubunda ilaç tüketimi anlamlı miktarda düşük olup KF-36’nın tedavi sonrası ağrı, genel sağlık ve sosyal fonksiyon skorlarında anlamlı iyileşme gözlendi. Sonuç: Fibromiyalji tedavisinde konvansiyonel fizik modaliteleri ile kombine edilen balneoterapi, hastalarda ağrı, fonksiyonel durum, yaşam ve uyku kalitesi ile ilaç tüketimi üzerinde olumlu katkı sağlayan etkili bir tedavi seçeneği olarak uygulanabilir.

Keywords

• ağrı
• yaşam kalitesi
• ilaç tüketimi
• balneoloji
• kronik yorgunluk

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