Balneotherapy for Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Review of Therapeutic Benefits

By Dr. Michele Antonelli, MD - 28/02/2025

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sometimes sleep disturbances, digestive problems, and psychological symptoms such as anxiety or low mood. The management of this condition remains a challenge, with many patients seeking non-pharmacological treatments to alleviate their symptoms. A promising approach that is gaining increasing attention is balneotherapy, which involves the therapeutic use of mineral waters and thermal muds.

File:Wong-Baker scale with emoji.png

Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (image created by Belbury in 2020 for Wikipedia and distributed under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license)

In a recent review of the scientific literature, published in the Journal of Environmental Rheumatology, ten key studies were analyzed and consistently demonstrated the benefits of thermal balneotherapy for patients with fibromyalgia. The main findings are as follows:

Pain and Disability Reduction: balneotherapy has shown significant efficacy in reducing pain and functional limitations associated with fibromyalgia. In some studies, the positive effects of a treatment cycle lasted up to six months after the treatment, demonstrating the long-term potential of this therapeutic approach.
Psychological Benefits: patients generally reported a reduction in anxiety levels and an improvement in mood. These psychological improvements are important, as fibromyalgia often presents alongside mental health challenges, such as chronic stress and mood disorders, which significantly impair the quality of life of affected individuals.
Improvement in Sleep Quality: many patients experienced an improvement in sleep quality after balneotherapy treatments, which is a fundamental aspect in the management of fibromyalgia, as sleep disturbances are quite common in this clinical condition.
Mechanism of Action: research suggests that thermal balneotherapy may influence several physiological processes that contribute to the symptoms of fibromyalgia. These include modulation of muscle tension, pain perception, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and stress-related hormones such as cortisol.

Gratis Sfondo Digitale Water Dew Foto a disposizione

Public Domain Picture

In conclusion, balneotherapy has proven to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for fibromyalgia, providing significant pain relief, improving psychological well-being, and enhancing the quality of life of individuals with this clinical condition. Moreover, the treatment is well tolerated by most patients, making it a valid option for those seeking an add-on to standard pharmacological treatments.

To maximize the effectiveness of balneotherapy, it is recommended that it be integrated into a multidisciplinary care model, in combination with other therapies such as physical exercise and education. This approach not only helps to further alleviate physical symptoms but also addresses the psychological burdens of the disease, creating a good strategy for the management of fibromyalgia.

>>> CLICK HERE to read the scientific article

Bibliographic reference

Antonelli, M., Mazzoleni, E., Maccarone, M. C., Masiero, S., & Fioravanti, A. (2025). Benefits and clinical relevance of balneotherapy for fibromyalgia syndrome: A literature overview. Journal of Environmental Rheumatology. https://doi.org/10.55563/jer/fhq2py