The effectiveness of breathing exercise in fibromyalgia syndrome: a pain meta-analysis

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic musculoskeletal condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigueand respiratory disturbances, each other. Due to the sustained duration in time, the side effects of pharmacological treatment and a greater impact on the symptoms of non-pharmacological treatment, this is the most recommended treatment. Among these, breathing exercise plays an essential role in respiratory disorders as well as in the reduction of cardiac activity, neuromuscular and hypothalamic activity and the excitability of the cerebral cortex. Hence, it is described that the relaxation achieved by these exercises involves physical, mental and physiological aspects <bold>Objective:</bold> The objective of this current review was to evaluate the efficacy of the breathing exercise in pain of the fibromyalgia syndrome patients. <bold>Patients and methods:</bold> A meta-analysis of the studies was performed out to observed the effect of breathing exercise versus a control. We carried out a literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct (last search January 2023). All studies included pain as one of the outcomes. <bold>Results:</bold> We included 6 studies, which included 523 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. The pooled mean difference showed significant overall effect of the breathing exercise (STMD= −0.74, 95% CI= -1.22, −0.26; p= 0.002) in pain. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This meta-analysis showed a significant beneficial effect of breathing exercise for improving pain of the fibromyalgia syndrome patients.