A randomized controlled trial of deep water running: clinical effectiveness of aquatic exercise to treat fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical effectiveness of aerobic exercise in the water with walking/jogging for women with fibromyalgia (FM).


METHODS
Sixty sedentary women with FM, ages 18-60 years, were randomly assigned to either deep water running (DWR) or land-based exercises (LBE). Patients were trained for 15 weeks at their anaerobic threshold. Visual analog scale of pain, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory, Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and a patient's global assessment of response to therapy (PGART) were measured at baseline, week 8, and week 15. Statistical analysis included all patients.


RESULTS
Four patients dropped out from each group. Both groups improved significantly at week 15 compared with baseline, with an average 36% reduction in pain intensity. For PGART, 40% of the DWR group and 30% of the LBE group answered "much better" at posttreatment. FIQ total score and FIQ depression improvements in the DWR group were faster (week 8) than the LBE group and kept improving (week 15; P < 0.05). Only the DWR group showed improvements in SF-36 role emotional (P = 0.006). No significant between-group differences were observed for peak oxygen uptake and other outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
DWR is a safe exercise that has been shown to be as effective as LBE regarding pain. However, it has been shown to bring more advantages related to emotional aspects. Aerobic gain was similar for both groups, regardless of symptom improvement. Therefore, DWR could be studied as an exercise option for patients with FM who have problems adapting to LBE or lower limbs limitations.
Assis
Marcos Renato
MR
Division of Rheumatology, São Paulo Federal University, Rua Botucatu 740, 04023-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
Silva
Luciana Eduardo
LE
Alves
Adriana Martins Barros
AM
Pessanha
Ana Paula
AP
Valim
Valéria
V
Feldman
Daniel
D
Neto
Turíbio Leite de Barros
TL
Natour
Jamil
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water
D014867:Water