Exercise May Ease Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Nov. 12, 2007 -- A simple exercise program that includes walking, stretching, and basic strength training may help control fibromyalgia symptoms.

Researchers found that women who followed the exercise program for four months experienced improvement of fibromyalgia symptoms and improved physical function for up to six months after the exercise program.

"Social function, mental health, fatigue, depression, and self-efficacy also improved," write Daniel S. Rooks, ScD, and colleagues in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Those physical and psychological benefits were further enhanced when the women participated in an educational program about managing fibromyalgia symptoms.

Fibromyalgia affects about 3.4% of women and 0.5% of men in the U.S., which causes chronic pain throughout the body for at least three months along with muscle tenderness.

Researchers say it's a complex and poorly understood condition for which there is no cure and few treatments.

New Treatment for Fibromyalgia Symptoms

In the study, 207 women with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to one of the following four treatment groups for 16 weeks:

• Aerobic exercise and flexibility only
• Aerobic exercise and stretching plus strength training
• No exercise and a self-help course on managing fibromyalgia symptoms
• All of the exercises and the education course

The exercise groups met twice a week and gradually increased the length and intensity of their workouts and were instructed to exercise on their own one day a week as well.

The women filled out questionnaires about their physical and mental well-being, and researchers measured their fibromyalgia symptoms and physical function at the start of the study and again six months later.

The results showed the largest improvements in physical function, mental health, fatigue, and self-sufficiency were found among the groups that included exercise. The researchers note that the group that did all three exercises plus the educational course had the best self-reported scores from the questionnaires.

Researchers say the results suggest that a simple exercise plan including walking, stretching, and basic strength training movements can improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia and complement other forms of treatment of the disease

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