Physical activity as a complementary approach for the pharmacological treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Effects of a 6-week aquatic strength and core training program

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and multifactorial disease, characterized by the presence of generalized pain that negatively influences the health-related quality of life of the affected person. Despite the severity and disabling effects that this disease causes in most cases, the physical and psychological symptoms can be alleviated through adequate physical fitness, with water-based exercise being one of the most recommended approaches for fibromyalgia patients. The objective of this case report was to verify the suitability and feasibility of a multicomponent aquatic training program carried out in a high temperature spa pool for a woman with fibromyalgia. For this purpose, a complete physical and psychological analysis in this patient with a history of lack of compliance and tolerance of physical activity is presented as a case report. A 62 year-old woman with fibromyalgia participated in 6-week program of strength, core, aerobic, and flexibility training developed in the aquatic environment, with analyses performed before and after intervention, where physical and psychological parameters were evaluated. The percentage of improvement showed an enhancement in all physical and psychological factors, with some test results over the reference values of minimal detectable change and minimal clinically significant difference for fibromyalgia patients and women of similar age. The presented case report provides a comprehensive examination of the physical and psychological status of a woman with fibromyalgia, prior to and proceeding a non-pharmacological intervention based on a multicomponent water-based training program. Results highlighted that a 6-week programme of water-based exercise program in a spa pool was suitable for reaching an enhancement in different physical and psychological parameters in this fibromyalgia patient, with her history of poor compliance and tolerance to conventional physical activity. If future studies with more sample size confirm our results, this approach could result interesting for fibromyalgia patients with low adherence and tolerance to land based training.