Aquatic exercise training for fibromyalgia

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Aquatic exercise training for fibromyalgia

Bidonde J, Busch AJ, Webber SC, Schachter CL, Danyliw A, Overend TJ, Richards RS, Rader T

Research question

We reviewed studies on the effects of aquatic exercise training for people with fibromyalgia on wellness, symptoms, fitness, and .

Background: what is fibromyalgia and what is aquatic training?

People with fibromyalgia have persistent, widespread body pain and often experience symptoms such as fatigue, stiffness, depression, and difficulty sleeping.

Aquatic training is exercising in a pool while standing at waist, chest, or shoulder depth. This examined the effects of supervised group aquatic training programs (led by an instructor).

Study characteristics

We searched the literature up to October 2013 and found 16 studies with 866 women and 15 men with fibromyalgia; 439 were assigned to aquatic training programs.

Nine studies compared aquatic exercise to no exercise; five studies compared aquatic exercise to land-based exercise, and two studies compared aquatic training to a different aquatic training.

Key results: for those who took part in aquatic exercise training compared to people who did not exercise

Overall well-being (multidimensional function) on a scale of 0 to 100 units

Those who did aquatic exercise rated their overall well-being six units better at the end of the than those who did not exercise.

Physical function (ability to do normal activities) on a scale of 0 to 100 units

Those who did aquatic exercise rated their ability to function four units better at the end of the than those who did not exercise.

Pain on a scale of 0 to 100 units

Those who did aquatic exercise rated their pain seven units better at the end of the than those who did not exercise.

Stiffness on a scale of 0 to 100 units

Those who did aquatic exercise rated their stiffness 18 units better at the end of the than those who did not exercise.

Muscle strength

People who did aquatic training improved their muscle strength by 37% more than those who did not do aquatic training.

Cardiovascular fitness estimated by meters walked in six minutes

Those who did aquatic exercise walked 37 meters further at the end of the than those who did not exercise.

Dropping out of the studies

Two more participants out of 100 in the aquatic training groups dropped out of the studies (15 aquatic exercisers dropped out while 13 non-exercisers dropped out).

Quality of evidence – aquatic versus

Further on overall well being and ability to function is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in these results and may change the results.

Further on pain, stiffness, muscle strength, and fitness is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in these results and is likely to change the results.

Key results: for those who did aquatic training compared to people who did land-based exercise

People who did both programs had similar results for overall well-being, physical function, pain, and stiffness. However, people who exercise on land improved their muscle strength by 9% more than those who did aquatic training. About the same number of people from both groups dropped out.

Quality of evidence – aquatic versus land-based

As so few studies have been done so far, we are very uncertain about the results.

Key results: for those who did one kind of aquatic training compared to a different kind of aquatic training

There were two studies in this comparison: one compared Ai Chi (Tai Chi in the water) to stretching in the water, and the other compared aquatic training in a pool to aquatic training in sea water. The only important difference found was for stiffness, favoring the Ai Chi aquatic training.

Quality of evidence – aquatic versus aquatic programs

As so few studies have been done so far, further is likely to change this result.

This record should be cited as: 

Bidonde J, Busch AJ, Webber SC, Schachter CL, Danyliw A, Overend TJ, Richards RS, Rader T. Aquatic exercise training for fibromyalgia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD011336. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011336

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