Ai Chi Versus Stretching in Fibromyalgia Management

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Fibromyalgia
• Interventions: Other: physical therapy

• Registration Number: NCT00600574
• Lead Sponsor: Universidad de Granada

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to compare the efficacy and tolerability of Ai Chi, an adaptation of Tai Chi exercise to water, with stretching on fibromyalgia symtomatology.

Detailed Description

Physical therapies have shown to be effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia and It is generally assumed that a multidisciplinary approach, combining both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic measures, is probably the optimal treatment approach for most fibromyalgia patients. As these patients are usually physically deconditioned, low-intensity exercise has been recommended at least as initial treatment. At this respect, exercise in warm water is considered a good option as both temperature and water buoyancy minimize body weight's stress and help patients to minimize pain. In a previous study comparing short term physiotherapy with stretching and Ai Chi we found that Ai Chi was at least as effective as stretching and induced a significant reduction in fibromyalgia core symptomatology and in sleep parameters. The objective of the present randomized controlled study is to compare both physiotherapy techniques in a long term basis.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-01
• Study First Submitted: 2008-01-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-01-14
• Study First Posted: 2008-01-25
• Primary Completion: 2008-02
• Study Completion: 2008-02
• Status Verified: 2014-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-12-01
• Last Update Posted: 2014-12-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 94

Inclusion Criteria

• diagnosis of fibromyalgia according to the ACR criteria
• 18 years or older
• written informed consent to participate

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Exclusion Criteria

• unable to tolerate warm chlorinated water
• associated medical condition contraindicating exercise in warm water

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
S	physical therapy	physiotherapy in warm pool by means of stretching
AI	physical therapy	physiotherapy in warm pool by means of Ai Chi

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fibromialgya Impact Questionnaire	baseline, 6 months, 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Brief Pain Inventory	baseline, 6 months, 12 months
SF-36 Health Survey	baseline, 6 months, 12 months
Pittsbugh Sleep Quality Index	baseline, 6 months, 12 months
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale	baseline, 6 months, 12 months
Adverse reaction recording	baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital Universitario "Virgen de las Nieves"; 🇪🇸 Granada, Spain