Assis (2006), A randomised controlled trial of deep water running clinical effectiveness of aquatic excercise to treat fibromyalgia

Introduction to Fibromyalgia and Exercise Therapy

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and diminished pain threshold, often leading to a sedentary lifestyle. Regular physical exercise has been recognized as a beneficial treatment for FM, improving symptoms like pain, fatigue, sleep, and mood quality. This study aims to compare the clinical effectiveness of aerobic exercise in water (deep water running, DWR) with traditional land-based exercises (LBE) such as walking or jogging for women with FM.

Study Design and Methods

The study enrolled 60 sedentary women with FM, randomly assigning them to either the DWR group or the LBE group. Over 15 weeks, participants underwent training at their anaerobic threshold. Various measures, including the Visual Analog Scale for pain, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Beck Depression Inventory, the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and a patient’s global assessment of response to therapy (PGART), were used to evaluate the outcomes at baseline, week 8, and week 15.

Results and Findings

Both DWR and LBE groups showed significant improvements, with a 36% reduction in pain intensity by week 15. The DWR group demonstrated faster improvements in FIQ total scores and depression by week 8, which continued to improve by week 15. Additionally, only the DWR group showed significant improvements in the SF-36 role emotional aspect. No significant differences were observed in peak oxygen uptake and other physical fitness outcomes between the groups.

Conclusions and Implications for FM Management

The study concluded that DWR is as effective as LBE in managing pain associated with FM. However, DWR offers additional benefits related to emotional well-being. Both exercise modalities resulted in similar aerobic gains, regardless of symptom improvement. Hence, DWR could be considered a viable exercise option for FM patients, especially those with lower limb limitations or difficulty adapting to LBE. Further research is suggested to explore the long-term benefits and applicability of various exercise types for different FM patient profiles.

Keywords: Fibromyalgia, deep water running, land-based exercises, aerobic exercise, pain management, emotional well-being, randomized controlled trial.