Effectiveness of balneotherapy in reducing pain, disability, and depression in patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Balneotherapy, using heated natural mineral waters at 36–38 °C, presents a comprehensive treatment approach for Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). This study aims to assess the effect of balneotherapy in reducing pain intensity, disability, and depression in patients with FMS. We want to assess this effect at just four time-points: immediately at the end of the therapy, and at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted an aggregate data meta-analysis, registered in PROSPERO CRD42023478206, searching PubMed Medline, Science Direct, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, and Web of Science until August 2023 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assess the effect of balneotherapy on pain intensity, disability, and depression in FMS patients. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane methodology, and the pooled effect was calculated using Cohen’s standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) in a random-effects model. Sixteen RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Balneotherapy is effective in reducing pain intensity (SMD − 1.67; 95% CI -2.18 to -1.16), disability (SMD − 1.1; 95% CI -1.46 to -0.7), and depression (SMD − 0.51; 95% CI -0.93 to -0.9) at the end of the intervention. This effect was maintained at 1, 3, and 6 months for pain intensity and disability. Balneotherapy improves both pain intensity and disability in patients with FMS, providing evidence that its positive effects are sustained for up to 6 months of follow-up. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the improvement in depression varies across different temporal phases.