EFEITOS DE DOIS PROGRAMAS DE EXERCÍCIOS AQUÁTICOS NOS DISTÚRBIOS DO INTESTINO EM INDIVÍDUOS COM FIBROMIALGIA

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic painful syndrome, characterized by
diffuse muscle skeletal pain, fatigue, sleep and bowel disturbance. This study
aimed to assess the effects of two different hydrotherapy programs – with
active exercises and passive relaxation exercises for the bowel disturbances
of subjects with fibromyalgia. Sixteen subjects with fibromyalgia concluded
the study. All of then related bowel symptoms, as constipation, flatulence,
excrements with too much mucus and chronicle diarrhea. It was requested
then to quantify the intensity of these symptoms, using analogous-numerical
scale. Then, subjects were randomly assigned in three groups. The first
performed active hydrotherapy exercises. The second, passive hydrotherapy
relaxation exercises. The third one was the control group. Exercises were
done for eight weeks. After that, subjects were reevaluated. When comparing
baseline and post-test scores, it was not detected any significant difference
(p > .05 for all the groups). It was not detected differences when comparing
all the groups (p = .115). However, improvement was observed when the Gactive
was compared to the control group (p = 0,036). The program of active exercises
improved the intensity of bowel disturbances of subjects with fibromyalgia.
However, it is not possible to confirm that active exercises are more efficient
than relaxation exercises, even so the last one did not improved the bowel
disturbances of these subjects.