Effectiveness of Dance on Patients With Fibromyalgia

Overview

The aim of the present study is to assess the effectiveness of belly dance as a treatment for pain and improving the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia. Eighty female patients with fibromyalgia between 18 to 65 years were randomly allocated to a dance group (n=40) and control group (n=40). Patients in the dance group underwent 16 weeks of belly dance twice a week, while the patients in the control group remained on a waiting list. Patients were evaluated with regard to pain (Visual Analogue Scale), function (6 minute walk test), quality of life (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and SF-36), depression (Beck Inventory), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and self-image (Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination) questionnaire. Evaluations were carried out at baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: September 2007

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Dance
    • Belly dance classes twice a week for 16 weeks. Each class had a maximum of eight students. The classes were administered by a physiotherapist with eight years of experience in belly dance. Classes began with a warm-up exercise, followed by the predetermined movements for the day, choreography and a cool-down exercise. The participants received a compact disc with music and an exercise book with the history and movements proposed for the program. Beginning in the fourth week, a set sequence of movements in the form of choreography was established for memorization and training at home.
  • Other: Control Group
    • The control group did not receive any intervention. They attended all assessments and remained on the waiting lis (after the end of the study was offered to this group the same treatment in the intervention group).

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Dance Group
    • Belly dance
  • No Intervention: Control Group
    • Waiting list

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Visual Analog Scale for Pain
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 and 100 where 0 is no pain and 100 in unbearable pain

Secondary Measures

  • Function – 6 Minute Walk Test
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • meters traveled on a 20-meter course over a six-minute period
  • Quality of Life – Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 10 with 0 indicating no impairment and 10 indicating maximum impairment
  • Quality of Life – SF-36 -Functional Capacity
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Quality of Life – SF-36 – Physical Limitation
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Quality of Life – Sf-36 – Pain
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Quality of Life – Sf-36 – General Health State
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Quality of Life – SF-36 – Vitality
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Quality of Life – SF-36 – Social Aspects
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Quality of Life – SF-36 – Emotional Aspects
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Quality of Life – SF-36 – Mental Health
    • Time Frame: baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 100, with higher scores denoting better quality of life
  • Depression – Beck Inventory
    • Time Frame: Baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • score between 0 from 63, with higher score indicating greater depression
  • Self-image – Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination Questionnaire
    • Time Frame: Baseline, after 16 weeks and after 32 weeks
    • scored between 0 from 168, with higher scores indicating greater level of dissatisfaction with self-image

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • classification of fibromyalgia based on the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology – female gender – aged between 18 and 65 years Exclusion Criteria:

  • not having altered treatment in previous three years – having signed a term of informed consent – patients with other rheumatic diseases, painful osteoarticular conditions, uncontrolled cardiopulmonary disease, diseases of the lower limbs or uncontrolled diabetes were excluded

Gender Eligibility: Female

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 65 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Federal University of São Paulo
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Andreia Salvador Baptista, Federal Unversity of Sao Paulo
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Andreia S Baptista, PT, Principal Investigator, Federal University of Sao Paulo
    • Jamil Natour, MD, Study Chair, Federal University of Sao Paulo

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