Assessment of the Effects of Aquatic Therapy on Global Symptomatology in Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Munguía-Izquierdo D, Legaz-Arrese A. Assessment of the effects of aquatic therapy on global symptomatology in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
Objectives
To evaluate the effects of a 16-week exercise therapy in a chest-high pool of warm water through applicable tests in the clinical practice on the global symptomatology of women with fibromyalgia (FM) and to determine exercise adherence levels.
Design
A randomized controlled trial.
Setting
Testing and training were completed at the university.
Participants
Middle-aged women with FM (n=60) and healthy women (n=25).
Intervention
A 16-week aquatic training program, including strength training, aerobic training, and relaxation exercises.
Main Outcome Measures
Tender point count (syringe calibrated), health status (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire); sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index); physical (endurance strength to low loads tests), psychologic (State Anxiety Inventory), and cognitive function (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task); and adherence 12 months after the completion of the study.
Results
For all the measurements, the patients showed significant deficiencies compared with the healthy subjects. Efficacy analysis (n=29) and intent-to-treat analysis (n=34) of the exercise therapy was effective in decreasing the tender point count and improving sleep quality, cognitive function, and physical function. Anxiety remained unchanged during the follow-up. The exercise group had a significant improvement of health status, not associated exclusively with the exercise intervention. There were no changes in the control group. Twenty-three patients in the exercise group were exercising regularly 12 months after completing the program.
Conclusions
An exercise therapy 3 times a week for 16 weeks in a warm pool could improve most of the symptoms of FM and cause a high adherence to exercise in unfit women with heightened FM symptomatology. The therapeutic intervention's effects can be assessed through applicable tests in the clinical practice.
aSection of Physical Education and Sports, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
bSection of Physical Education and Sports, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
Reprint requests to Diego Munguía-Izquierdo, PhD, Departamento de Deporte e Informática, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera Utrera, Km 1, s/n, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
Supported by the European Social Funds and Regional Government of Aragon (Spain: grant no. B187/2004).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
ABSTRACT