Adriana Carluccio Hasher

This is me  2010

Exercise is a crucial part of managing fibromyalgia, and recent research suggests that belly dancing may be an effective option for people with this condition. A Brazilian study published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology found that 16 weeks of twice-weekly belly dance classes led to significant improvements in pain, sleep patterns, functional capacity, and self-image among 80 female fibromyalgia patients between the ages of 18 to 65. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to the dance group while the other half remained on a waiting list. Participants were evaluated at baseline, 16 weeks, and 32 weeks by an assessor who didn’t know which group they were in. The researchers concluded that belly dancing is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for women with fibromyalgia.

Source:

Baptista AS, et al. Effectiveness of dance in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized, single-blind, controlled study. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2012 Sep 28. [Epub ahead of print]