Pool exercise helps fibromyalgia patients

CACERES, Spain, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Fibromyalgia patients benefit significantly from regular exercise in a heated pool, researchers in Spain and Portugal say.

A study published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy found the long-term aquatic program is effective in reducing symptoms and improving the health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia patients.

Narcís Gusi of the University of Extremadura in Caceres, Spain, and Pablo Tomas-Carus of the University of Evora, Portugal, carried out a randomized controlled trial with a group of 33 female fibromyalgia patients. Seventeen of the patients took part in supervised 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.

In an earlier study, the researchers had shown that even a short-term exercise regime could reduce symptoms, but pain would return once the patients stopped the exercise.

In future studies, the researchers plan to study more accessible and less expensive exercise like low-impact aerobics, walking and tai-chi.

Fibromyalgia is a painful, sometimes debilitating muscle, ligament and tendon disorder often accompanied by sleep problems, anxiety and depression. It is usually treated with painkillers, exercise, relaxation programs and anti-depressants.