title: Swimming Improves Pain and Functional Capacity of Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: To evaluate the effect of swimming on pain, functional capacity, aerobic capacity, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).
  
  
  
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  
  Rheumatology outpatient clinics of a university hospital.
  
  
  
  Women with FM (N=75; age range, 18-60y) randomly assigned to a swimming group (SG) (n=39) or a walking group (WG) (n=36).
  
  
  
  The SG performed 50 minutes of swimming 3 times a week for 12 weeks, with a heart rate at 11 beats under the anaerobic threshold. The WG performed walking with a heart rate at the anaerobic threshold, with the same duration and frequency as the SG.
  
  
  
  Participants were evaluated before the exercise protocols (t0), at 6 weeks (t6), and at 12 weeks (t12) after the onset of the protocols. The primary outcome measure was the visual analog scale for pain. The secondary measurements were the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey for quality of life; a spiroergometric test for cardiorespiratory variables; and the timed Up & Go test for functional performance.
  
  
  
  Patients in both groups experienced improvement in pain after the 12-week program, with no difference between groups (P=.658). The same results were found regarding functional capacity and quality of life. Moreover, no statistical difference between groups was found regarding aerobic capacity over time.
  
  
  
  Swimming, like walking, is an effective method for reducing pain and improving both functional capacity and quality of life in patients with FM.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Rheumatology Division, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Rheumatology Division, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Rheumatology Division, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michele Vieira
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Nery Cabral
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Rheumatology Division, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Letícia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pirozzi Buosi
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Rheumatology Division, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: jnatour@unifesp.br.
authors.forename: Jamil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Natour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011788:Quality of Life; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Exercise; Fibromyalgia; Rehabilitation; Swimming; Therapeutics