Effectiveness of a 6-Month Land-Based and Water-Based Exercise Intervention on Body Composition and Physical Fitness in Women With Fibromyalgia: The Al-Ándalus Quasi-experimental Study.

In 30 seconds

This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effects of land-based and water-based exercise interventions on body composition and physical fitness in 250 women with fibromyalgia. The results indicated that land-based exercise significantly reduced fat mass and improved various fitness measures compared to usual care, with a mean difference in fat mass percentage of -2%.

Key findings

• Land-based exercise reduced fat mass percentage by 2% and increased muscle mass by 1kg compared to usual care.
• Land-based training improved lower-limb strength by 3 repetitions and cardiovascular endurance by 43m versus usual care.
• Water-based exercise improved upper-limb strength by 3 repetitions compared to usual care.
• At follow-up, land-based exercise maintained improvements in lower-limb strength and flexibility.

Why it matters

Understanding the effectiveness of different exercise modalities can help clinicians design better rehabilitation programs for women with fibromyalgia, potentially improving their quality of life and physical function.