Proposed effects of horticultural therapy in fibromyalgia management.
| Proposed mechanism | Supporting evidence | Potential relevance to FM |
|---|---|---|
| Stress reduction | Reduced anxiety and improved mood [17, 31, 34] | Chronic stress implicated in FM |
| Sensory stimulation | Exposure to multi-sensory stimuli [31] | Relaxation and attentional distraction |
| Increased physical activity | Gardening and nature-based low-intensity movement activities [19, 20, 27] | Improved conditioning and reduced kinesiophobia |
| Autonomic nervous system regulation | Increased parasympathetic activity and reduced physiological arousal [39, 40] | FM associated with autonomic dysfunction |
| Neuroendocrine modulation | Reduced stress hormone activity [18, 38] | May influence pain perception and fatigue |
| Neuroimmune regulation | Changes in profile of inflammatory and immunologic biomarkers [44–45] | FM may involve neuroimmune dysregulation |
| Attention restoration and mindfulness | Improved mindfulness, affect, and emotional regulation [29, 30, 35, 36] | May reduce pain catastrophizing and cognitive fatigue |
| Social engagement and self-efficacy | Improved coping, competence, and self-efficacy [18] | May improve functional capacity, adaptability, and participation in daily activities |
FM: fibromyalgia.
JBS: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. The author read and approved the submitted version.
The author declares that she has no competing interests.
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