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Ai Chi Versus Stretching in Fibromyalgia Management

U

University of Granada (UGR)

Status and phase

Completed
Phase 4

Conditions

Fibromyalgia

Treatments

Other: physical therapy

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00600574
ML-2007

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment

94 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

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

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

None (Open label)

94 participants in 2 patient groups

S
Active Comparator group
Description:
physiotherapy in warm pool by means of stretching
Treatment:
Other: physical therapy
Other: physical therapy
AI
Experimental group
Description:
physiotherapy in warm pool by means of Ai Chi
Treatment:
Other: physical therapy
Other: physical therapy

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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