Study on the effect of thalassotherapy on fibromyalgia

The aim of this study by the Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital was to investigate the effect of a combination of thalassotherapy, exercise and patient education in people with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia patients, recruited from a rheumatology outpatient clinic and the Dutch Fibromyalgia Patients Association, were randomized in advance. One group received a 2.5-week treatment in a Tunisian spa resort with thalassotherapy, supervised exercise therapy and group education (active treatment), while the control group continued their usual treatment.

The primary endpoint was health-related quality of life, measured using the RAND-36 questionnaire. Secondary measures included the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Tender Point Assessment and a 6-minute treadmill test.

The 58 participants in the active treatment group showed significant improvement in the physical and mental components of the RAND-36. In terms of physical health, the differences with the 76-member control group were significant after 3 months, but not after 6 and 12 months. A similar pattern of transient improvement was seen in the self-reported secondary measures.

Tender point scores and treadmill tests improved more after active treatment, but with no significant differences between groups - except for treadmill tests at 12 months.

A combination of thalassotherapy, exercise and patient education can temporarily improve the symptoms and health-related quality of life of fibromyalgia patients.