title: Effect of a 24-week physical training programme (in water and on land) on pain, functional capacity, body composition and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the effect of a 24-week physical training programme in water and on land on women with fibromyalgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled study was conducted from December 2009 to May 2010. Seventy-two women with fibromyalgia (age: 51.79±7.87 years) were assigned to an exercise group (3 sessions/week, 2 sessions in water, 1 session on land) (n=42) and to a control group (n=30). The variables analysed were: number of tender points, visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, algometer score, functional capacity (leg strength, hand-grip dynamometry, flexibility, agility, balance, aerobic endurance, heart response), body composition (body mass index, fat mass index, skeletal muscle mass index and percentage of body fat) and psychological variables (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire [FIQ] and Short Form Health Survey 36 [SF-36]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exercise group improved in the algometer score (p<0.001), positive tender points (p=0.005), VAS (p<0.001) and FIQ (p<0.001). Improvements were also detected in functional capacity (leg strength, p=0.001; hand-grip dynamometry, p=0.001; flexibility, p<0.001; balance, p=0.006; 6-minute walk test, p<0.001; mean heart rate, p=0.031; maximum heart rate, p<0.001 and VO2 max, p<0.001). There was a decrease in the percentage of body fat (p=0.040). There was also an improvement in the subscales of the SF-36; vitality (p=0.004), mental health (p=0.001) social role functioning (p=0.020) and general health functioning (p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study show that a 24-week physical training programme (3 sessions/week, of which 2 sessions are in water and 1 session is on land) reduces pain and disease impact and improves functional capacity in women with fibromyalgia.
authors.affiliation: University of Jaén, Spain. platorre@ujaen.es.
authors.forename: Pedro Ángel
authors.initials: PÁ
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.forename: María Aparecida
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Jose Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Heredia-Jiménez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado-Fernández
authors.forename: Víctor Manuel
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mañas
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbonell-Baeza
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001823:Body Composition; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013551:Swimming Pools; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome