Background Fibromyalgia is a polysymptomatic central sensitisation disorder characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and neuropsychiatric features. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy modulates neuroinflammation, mitochondrial function and neuroplasticity, thereby yielding analgesic and functional benefits.
Objective Evaluate the efficacy and optimal timing of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct to standard care for fibromyalgia. Design, setting and participants This single-centre, randomised, cross-over group, assessor-blinded clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Rheumatology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil, and adhered to Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines.
Women (18–70 years) with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia for ≥2 years were randomised 1:1 to early hyperbaric oxygen therapy plus standard care or standard care alone (delayed group). Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was conducted with all 56 participants (mean age: 51.0±9.8 years; mean body mass index: 30.5±5.1 kg/m²).
Interventions Standardised care (education, exercise and pharmacotherapy) plus hyperbaric oxygen therapy was delivered at 2.3 atmospheres absolute for 90 min, five times per week, over 8 weeks (total 32–40 sessions).
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 01 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on HOTFy: randomised clinical trial for hyperbaric oxygen therapy in fibromyalgia.
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