Fibromyalgia symptoms reduced by pool-based aquatic aerobic exercise programme, says new research

Women with fibromyalgia could benefit from regular water-based aerobic exercise, a team highlights in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science.
Experts looked at the effects of aquatic, aerobic and isometric strength-stretching exercises on the physical and psychological wellbeing of people with fibromyalgia. A total of 75 women (aged 18 years to 50 years) with fibromyalgia were split into three groups and for three months took part in either:

• A home-based isometric strength and stretching exercise programme;
• A gym-based aerobic exercise programme;
• A pool-based aquatic aerobic exercise programme.

The researcher recorded the number of tender points, standards measures of pain and depression, impact of fibromyalgia scores, the Six-Minute Walk Test and physical and mental health scores.

All three groups showed improvements in all variables. The exception was the home-based isometric strength and stretching exercise programme which did not show improvements in pain measures or depression scores. But the pool-based aquatic aerobic exercise programme was the most effective.

“The results suggest that aquatic aerobic exercise program is more effective than a gym-based aerobic exercise program and a home-based isometric strength and stretching exercise program in the treatment of fibromyalgia,” the research group concludes.

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Image credit: Robert Neff