Passive body heating improves sleep patterns in female patients with fibromyalgia

Authors

  • Andressa Silva Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercício
  • Sandra Souza de Queiroz Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercício
  • Monica Levy Andersen Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Marcos Mônico-Neto Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercício
  • Raquel Munhoz da Silveira Campos Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercício
  • Suely Roizenblatt Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Sergio Tufik Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercício
  • Marco Túlio de Mello Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercício

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6061/CLINICS/2013(02)OA03

Keywords:

Fibromyalgia, Balneotherapy, Sleep, Pain, Body Temperature

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of passive body heating on the sleep patterns of patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Six menopausal women diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to the criteria determined by the American College of Rheumatology were included. All women underwent passive immersion in a warm bath at a temperature of 36 ±1 °C for 15 sessions of 30 minutes each over a period of three weeks. Their sleep patterns were assessed by polysomnography at the following time-points: pre-intervention (baseline), the first day of the intervention (acute), the last day of the intervention (chronic), and three weeks after the end of the intervention (follow-up). Core body temperature was evaluated by a thermistor pill during the baseline, acute, chronic, and follow-up periods. The impact of this treatment on fibromyalgia was assessed via a specific questionnaire termed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. RESULTS: Sleep latency, rapid eye movement sleep latency and slow wave sleep were significantly reduced in the chronic and acute conditions compared with baseline. Sleep efficiency was significantly increased during the chronic condition, and the awakening index was reduced at the chronic and follow-up time points relative to the baseline values. No significant differences were observed in total sleep time, time in sleep stages 1 or 2 or rapid eye movement sleep percentage. The core body temperature and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire responses did not significantly change over the course of the study. CONCLUSION: Passive body heating had a positive effect on the sleep patterns of women with fibromyalgia.

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Published

2013-01-01

Issue

Section

Clinical Sciences

How to Cite

Passive body heating improves sleep patterns in female patients with fibromyalgia . (2013). Clinics, 68(2), 135-140. https://doi.org/10.6061/CLINICS/2013(02)OA03