ABSTRACT Objective To determine the effects of a 3-month multidisciplinary intervention on pain (primary outcome), body composition and physical fi tness (secondary outcomes) in women with fi bromyalgia (FM). Methods 75 women with FM were allocated to a low-moderate intensity 3-month (three times/week) multidisciplinary (pool, land-based and psychological sessions) programme (n=33) or to a usual care group (n=32). The outcome variables were pain threshold, body composition (body mass index and estimated body fat percentage) and physical fi tness (30 s chair stand, handgrip strength, chair sit and reach, back scratch, blind fl amingo, 8 feet up and go and 6 min walk test). Results The authors observed a signifi cant interaction effect (group*time) for the left (L) and right (R) side of the anterior cervical (p<0.001) and the lateral epicondyle R (p=0.001) tender point. Post hoc analysis revealed that pain threshold increased in the intervention group (positive) in the anterior cervical R (p<0.001) and L (p=0.012), and in the lateral epicondyle R (p=0.010), whereas it decreased (negative) in the anterior cervical R (p<0.001) and L (p=0.002) in the usual care group. There was also a signifi cant interaction effect for chair sit and reach. Post hoc analysis revealed improvement in the intervention group (p=0.002). No signifi cant improvement attributed to the training was observed in the rest of physical fi tness or body composition variables. Conclusions A 3-month multidisciplinary intervention three times/week had a positive effect on pain threshold in several tender points in women with FM. Though no overall improvements were observed in physical fi tness or body composition, the intervention had positive effects on lower-body fl exibility
