Similar improvements seen with swimming vs walking for patients with fibromyalgia

Investigators from the Federal University of São Paulo found swimming was as beneficial as walking in terms of pain relief and improved the quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia.

“Physical exercise is an essential component of treatment for fibromyalgia, and plenty of studies have demonstrated that low-impact aerobic exercise offers the most benefits,” Jamil Natour, MD, professor of rheumatology at the Federal University of São Paulo, said in a press release. “However, not everyone likes or is able to do the same kind of physical activity, so our group decided to test alternatives.”

Natour and colleagues identified 75 sedentary women with fibromyalgia. Investigators randomly assigned the women into two treatment groups. Thirty-nine women practiced freestyle swimming and 36 women performed moderate open-air walking. Training took place three times a week for a total of 12 weeks. Participants were assessed prior to and after the 12-week training period. The VAS was used to assess pain intensity. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the SF-36 was used to evaluate patients’ quality of life.

Results showed pain intensity decreased, on average, from 6.2 to 3.6 in the walking group and from 6.4 to 3.1 in the swimming group. Investigators noted all SF-36 subscales showed significant improvements for both groups. Both groups had similar improvements on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and on a spiroergometric test.

“The results of this clinical trial showed swimming was as beneficial as walking, whose positive effects have clearly been demonstrated. Swimming can be a preferable option for a person who suffers from both fibromyalgia and knee arthrosis, for example,” Natour said in the release.

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