OP0101 COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF LAND AND WATER-BASED EXERCISE ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM THE AL-ÁNDALUS RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: Blanca Gavilán Carrera, Víctor Segura-Jiménez, Pedro Acosta-Manzano, Fernando Estevez-Lopez, Milkana Borges Cosic, Virginia A Aparicio, Ana Carbonell-Baeza, Manuel Delgado-Fernández
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background</h3> Compelling evidence supports the efficacy of physical exercise in the management of fibromyalgia (FM)<sup>1</sup>. Although exercise interventions have typically focused on either land or water-based programs, research comparing the efficacy of both protocols is limited. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two exercise interventions (land-based and water-based training) on quality of life (QOL) of patients with FM. <h3>Methods</h3> Among the 272 participants initially randomized, a total of 151 (age:50.6±7.6 years, 98%women) completed all the assessments with an attendance ≥70% (land-based <i>n</i>=48, water-based <i>n</i>=42, control <i>n</i>=61). The intervention groups trained 3 non-consecutive days/week (60 minutes per session) during 24 weeks. Each session involved exercises to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. Physical and mental domains of QOL were assessed through the <i>36-item Short Form Health Survey</i> (SF-36). Participants were evaluated at baseline (pre-test), at the end of the intervention (post-test) and following a detraining period of 12 weeks after the end of the intervention (re-test). Land-based, water-based, and control groups were comparable in sex, sociodemographic characteristics, disease duration, drugs intake, and BMI. Age, tenderness, and baseline outcomes values were used as covariates in the comparisons of the changes from baseline (post-test vs. pre-test and re-test vs. pre-test) between groups <h3>Results</h3> Post-intervention changes from baseline in QOL dimensions in the land-based exercise group were better for physical role (compared to the control and water-based groups; all, <i>p</i>&lt;0.01), bodily pain, general health, social function, emotional role, mental health, and mental component (compared to the control group; all, <i>p</i>≤0.05). Post-intervention changes from baseline in the water-based exercise group were not statistically significant compared to land-based or control groups (<i>p</i>&gt;0.05). After a detraining period of 12 weeks, changes in QOL from baseline in the land-based exercise group were better for physical role, bodily pain (compared to the control and water-based exercise groups; all, <i>p</i>&lt;0.01), physical function and physical component (compared to the water-based exercise group; all <i>p</i>&lt;0.05). No significant changes in QOL after the detraining period from baseline were observed in the water-based exercise group compared to land-based or control groups (<i>p</i>&gt;0.05). <h3>Conclusion</h3> A land-based exercise intervention improved FM patients' QOL, whereas a water-based exercise intervention showed no significant effect. Improvements in the physical role and bodily pain domains of QOL were sustained in a 12-week detraining period. Land-based exercise might be an easily accessible treatment option that improves QOL to a greater extent than water-based exercise for FM patients. <h3>Reference</h3> [1] Macfarlane GJ, et al. Ann Rheum Dis, 2018; 76(2), 318-328. <h3>Acknowledgement</h3> Funding: This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (I+D+i DEP2010-15639; I+D+I DEP2013-40908-R; BES-2014-067612) and the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU14/02518; FPU 15/00002) <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None declared