title: Effectiveness of dance in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized, single-blind, controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of belly dance as a treatment option for patients with fibromyalgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty female patients with fibromyalgia between 18 to 65 years were randomly allocated to a dance group (n=40) and control group (n=40). Patients in the dance group underwent 16 weeks of belly dance twice a week, while the patients in the control group remained on a waiting list. The patients were evaluated with regard to pain (VAS), function (6MWT), quality of life (FIQ and SF-36), depression (Beck Inventory), anxiety (STAI) and self-image (BDDE). Evaluations were carried out at baseline, 16 weeks and 32 weeks by a blinded assessor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dance group achieved significant improvements in VAS for pain (p<0.001), six-minute walk test (p<0.001), FIQ (p=0.003), BDDE (p<0.009) as well as the pain (p<0.001), emotional aspects (p<0.003) and mental health (p<0.021) subscales on the SF-36.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Belly dance can be used in the treatment of fibromyalgia to reduce pain and improve functional capacity, quality of life and self-image.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Rehabilitation Section, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrei Salvador
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: Ana Luiza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Villela
authors.forename: Anamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jamil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Natour
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001828:Body Image; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003614:Dance Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult