Aerobic Dance Exercises in Fibromyalgia Syndrome

The Effectiveness of Aerobic Dance Exercises in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic dance exercises on patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to compare these effects with those of conventional postural exercises.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic dance exercises on patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to compare these effects with those of conventional postural exercises. A total of 44 female participants were included. Group-1 (n=22) received aerobic dance exercises twice a week for eight weeks, while Group-2 (n=22) was given a conventional postural exercise program as a home-based intervention with the same duration and frequency. To evaluate the participants, the following assessment tools were used: Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire, Short Form-36, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Beck Depression Inventory, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and Fatigue Severity Scale. Both groups showed significant improvements in nearly all parameters after the intervention (p<0.05).

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of FMS according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria
• being female between the ages of 18 and 65
• having the physical capacity to exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

• unstable angina pectoris with severe dyspnea that would prevent exercise
• the presence of any neurological or orthopedic disease other than FMS