Aquatic Exercise Improves Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Exercising in a heated pool reduces the symptoms of fibromyalgia, according to a study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

A team of researchers studying fibromyalgia and exercise randomly placed 33 women with fibromyalgia to two groups: One group took part in supervised training exercises in warm water for an hour three times a week over a period of eight months while the remaining 16 did no aquatic training.

The researchers found that this long-term aquatic exercise program was effective in reducing symptoms and improving the health-related quality of life of the participants. In an earlier study, the researchers had shown that even a short-term exercise regimen could reduce symptoms but pain would return once the patients stopped exercising.

The researchers, based in Spain and Portugal, have yet to compare aquatic training with other forms of exercise, such as low-impact aerobics, walking, and tai-chi.