Cryotherapy as Adjunct Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Author(s): Jobin Puthuparampil, Shaker A. Mousa

Common symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are chronic widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Cryotherapy, which is commonly used in sports medicine, is used to alleviate pain and inflammation by exposing the body to cold temperatures maintained at -110°C and below. Recent evidence has shown that cryotherapy has a potential beneficial role in treating fibromyalgia. This review summarizes the unknown etiology of fibromyalgia, first-line treatment options for fibromyalgia, and how cryotherapy can be effective in reducing fibromyalgia symptoms. Cryotherapy might be useful adjunctive treatment but further research is still needed with larger sample sizes.