Diathermy improves pain and well-being in fibromyalgia patients

Diathermy, a deep-heating therapy using electric currents, relaxes muscles, reduces inflammation, and significantly eases pain, anxiety, and fatigue in fibromyalgia patients.

To explore the effectiveness of diathermy in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms, particularly pain, in patients.

Thirty-one women with fibromyalgia were included in this trial. They were subjected to diathermy twice a week for four weeks. Measurements of pain sensitivity, anxiety, fatigue, sleep quality, and the overall impact of fibromyalgia were taken at 3 time points using various assessment tools:

• Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) at tender points (TP) on the right and left trochanteric prominences using an algometer
• Pain Measurement Scale
• Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
• Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

The study found that diathermy significantly reduced pain sensitivity at key tender points like right and left trochanter PPT, and improved anxiety, fatigue, sleep quality, and overall disease impact compared to the baseline.

Diathermy effectively reduces pain and improves various symptoms of fibromyalgia, including chronic fatigue, anxiety and sleep disturbances.