RESEARCH - Exercise in waist-high warm water in fibromyalgia

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Feb 15;55(1):66-73.

Exercise in waist-high warm water decreases pain and improves health-related

quality of life and strength in the lower extremities in women with

fibromyalgia.

Fitness and Lifequality Laboratory, Sports Sciences Faculty, University of

Extremadura, Avenue Universidad s/n, 10071 Caceres, Spain. ngusi@...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of exercise therapy

in a warm, waist-high pool in women with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Thirty-four

women (mean +/- SD tender points 17 +/- 1) were randomly assigned to either

an exercise group (n = 17) to perform 3 weekly sessions of training

including aerobic, proprioceptive, and strengthening exercises during 12

weeks, or to a control group (n = 17). Maximal unilateral isokinetic

strength was measured in the knee extensors and flexors in concentric and

eccentric actions at 60 degrees /second and 210 degrees /second, and in the

shoulder abductors and adductors in concentric contractions. Health-related

quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the EQ-5D questionnaire; pain was

assessed on a visual analog scale. All were measured at baseline,

posttreatment, and after 6 months. RESULTS: The strength of the knee

extensors in concentric actions increased by 20% in both limbs after the

training period, and these improvements were maintained after the

de-training period in the exercise group. The strength of other muscle

actions measured did not change. HRQOL improved by 93% (P = 0.007) and pain

was reduced by 29% (P = 0.012) in the exercise group during the training,

but pain returned close to the pretraining level during the subsequent

de-training. However, there were no changes in the control group during the

entire period.

CONCLUSION: The therapy relieved pain and improved HRQOL and muscle strength

in the lower limbs at low velocity in patients with initial low muscle

strength and high number of tender points. Most of these improvements were

maintained long term.

PMID: 16463415

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=Abstra\

ctPlus & list_uids=16463415

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

Interesting . I think insurance companies would save a lot of

money if they paid for a

hot tub for all arthritis and fibro patients. Mine has allowed me to

cut down on the meds I

take, increased my strength, range of motion and stamina, helps me

sleep better, and reduces my pain & stress.

Recently I was without my hot tub for a few weeks when I went back to

NJ to visit family & friends,

and within a week I was so stiff and sore that I couldn't wait to

come home. I have no plans on

leaving my hot tub again anytime soon. It's not worth it.

a

On Aug 13, 2006, at 11:28 AM, wrote:

> Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Feb 15;55(1):66-73.

>

> Exercise in waist-high warm water decreases pain and improves

> health-related

> quality of life and strength in the lower extremities in women with

> fibromyalgia.

>

> Fitness and Lifequality Laboratory, Sports Sciences Faculty,

> University of

> Extremadura, Avenue Universidad s/n, 10071 Caceres, Spain.

> ngusi@...

>

> OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of

> exercise therapy

> in a warm, waist-high pool in women with fibromyalgia. METHODS:

> Thirty-four

> women (mean +/- SD tender points 17 +/- 1) were randomly assigned

> to either

> an exercise group (n = 17) to perform 3 weekly sessions of training

> including aerobic, proprioceptive, and strengthening exercises

> during 12

> weeks, or to a control group (n = 17). Maximal unilateral isokinetic

> strength was measured in the knee extensors and flexors in

> concentric and

> eccentric actions at 60 degrees /second and 210 degrees /second,

> and in the

> shoulder abductors and adductors in concentric contractions. Health-

> related

> quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the EQ-5D questionnaire;

> pain was

> assessed on a visual analog scale. All were measured at baseline,

> posttreatment, and after 6 months. RESULTS: The strength of the knee

> extensors in concentric actions increased by 20% in both limbs

> after the

> training period, and these improvements were maintained after the

> de-training period in the exercise group. The strength of other muscle

> actions measured did not change. HRQOL improved by 93% (P = 0.007)

> and pain

> was reduced by 29% (P = 0.012) in the exercise group during the

> training,

> but pain returned close to the pretraining level during the subsequent

> de-training. However, there were no changes in the control group

> during the

> entire period.

>

> CONCLUSION: The therapy relieved pain and improved HRQOL and muscle

> strength

> in the lower limbs at low velocity in patients with initial low muscle

> strength and high number of tender points. Most of these

> improvements were

> maintained long term.

>

> PMID: 16463415

>

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

> db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=AbstractPlus & list_uids=16463415

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

>