SynthesisInternational journal of biometeorology2024
Effectiveness of balneotherapy in reducing pain, disability, and depression in patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Synthesis in International journal of biometeorology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Climatotherapy in marine and dead sea environments for musculoskeletal and rheumatologic conditions: a systematic review of effectiveness and safety.International journal of biometeorology · 2026Pooled it
- The dose-response relationship of aquatic exercise for musculoskeletal pain relief: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Pooled it
- Evidence-based balneotherapy in Hungary. Updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the Hungarian clinical trials.International journal of biometeorology · 2026Pooled it
- Acupuncture for fibromyalgia syndrome: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- 4-Week Comparative Outcomes of Standard Physiotherapy, Balneotherapy Plus Physiotherapy and Dextrose Prolotherapy in Patients with Low Back Pain: A Non-Randomized Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Trial
- Effects of balneotherapy on stress, anxiety, and depression: results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial with six-month follow-up.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2026Trial
- Impact of Comprehensive Health Resort Treatment on Insomnia and Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Pre-Experimental Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Balneotherapy and Manual Therapy of Key Myofascial Trigger Points as Therapeutic Integration for COPD Associated with Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Case Series.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Study on the effect of aquatic exercise combined with hot spring bathing for patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Health Resorts as an integrated community healthcare model for fibromyalgia syndrome: a strategic SWOT analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Effects of repeated balneotherapy on skin hydration and psychophysiological stress: findings from a 16-week korean spa trial.International journal of biometeorology · 2025Article
- Hydrogen Sulfide in Balneology: Physiology, Evidence, and Clinical Translation.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Longer Health Resort Therapy Improves Outcomes in Long COVID: A Retrospective Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Article
- Balneotherapy in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: protocol of "FIBROTHERM", a prospective multi-center, two-cohort observational study.International journal of biometeorology · 2025Article
- Fibromyalgia: do I tackle you with complementary medicines?Pain reports · 2025Review
- Health Resort Treatment Mitigates Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Long COVID Patients: A Retrospective Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
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.
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Registered trials
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