Effectiveness of a 6-Month Land-Based and Water-Based Exercise Intervention on Body Composition and Physical Fitness...

To compare the effects of land-based, water-based exercise, and usual care on body composition and physical fitness in women with fibromyalgia.

Quasi-experimental study.

University facilities and fibromyalgia associations.

Two hundred fifty women (N=250) with fibromyalgia.

Participants were quasi-randomized to usual care (n=82), land-based (n=83), or water-based groups (n=85).

Body composition (bioimpedance) and physical fitness (Senior Fitness Test and handgrip strength) were assessed at baseline, postintervention (24wk), and 12-week follow-up.

Land-based reduced fat mass percentage (mean difference, -2%; 95% CI, -3 to 0), increased muscle mass (1kg; 0-1), and improved lower- (3 repetitions; 2-4) and upper-limb strength (4 repetitions; 2-6), lower-limb flexibility (4cm; 1-8), agility (-1s; -1 to 0) and cardiovascular endurance (43m; 19-68) versus usual care. Water-based improved lower- (2 repetitions; 1-3) and upper-limb strength (3 repetitions; 2-5) and agility (-1s; -1 to 0) compared with usual care. At follow-up, land-based maintained improvements in lower-limb (2 repetitions; 1-3) and upper-limb strength (3 repetitions; 2-5), lower-limb flexibility (5cm; 1-8), and agility (-1s; -1 to 0) versus usual care. Water-based retained only upper-limb strength gains (2 repetitions; 1-4). Compared with water-based, land-based yields greater improvements in lower-limb strength (postintervention: 1 repetition; 0-2; follow-up: 1 repetition; 0-2) and cardiovascular endurance (postintervention: 30 meters, 6-54; follow-up: 37 meters, 12-61). Agility was also higher at follow-up (-1s, -1 to 0).

Land-based training provided greater and more lasting benefits than water-based exercise and usual care.