Women With FM Benefit From Walking, Strength Training And Stretching Program

[Guest guest]

Women With Fibromyalgia Benefit From Walking, Strength Training And Stretching

Program

12 Nov 2007

Women with fibromyalgia may experience significantly improved daily function and

symptom relief after taking part in a program that includes walking, strength

training and stretching, according to an article published in Archives of

Internal Medicine (JAMA/Archives), November 12th issue. When the program is

combined with education about managing the disease the benefits are even better,

explain the researchers.

About 3.4% of women and 0.5% of men in the USA are affected by fibromyalgia, the

authors explain. A fibromyalgia patient typically experiences chronic pain

throughout his/her body for at least three months, as well as specific sites of

tenderness. The causes and mechanisms of fibromyalgia are poorly understood.

The researchers write " Even with the recent approval of pregabalin by the Food

and Drug Administration to treat fibromyalgia symptoms, pharmacotherapy is often

insufficient to resolve persistent symptoms or improve functional limitations

and quality of life. "

S. Rooks, Sc.D., previously at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard

Medical School, Boston, and now with Novartis Institutes for Biomedical

Research, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., and team recruited 207 women who were taking

drugs for fibromyalgia between 2002-2004.

The women were randomly assigned to four groups for a period of 16 weeks & #1475;

Group 1 - 51 women

They performed just aerobic and flexibility exercises

Group 2 - 51 women

They performed aerobic and strength training exercises

Group 3 - 50 women

They received a self-help course on managing fibromyalgia

Group 4 - 55 women

They did aerobic and strength training, as well as receiving the self-help

course on managing fibromyalgia

The exercise groups met twice a week - their workouts gradually become longer

and more intense, with instructions to do a third day a week of exercise on

their own.

135 women completed the study and were assessed six-months later. The assessment

consisted of two self-assessment questionnaires and one performance test.

Women in Groups 3 and 4 had the most improvement in their physical function,

with those in Group 4 doing better than those in Group 3.

The researchers wrote " Social function, mental health, fatigue, depression and

self-efficacy also improved. The beneficial effect on physical function of

exercise alone and in combination with education persisted at six months. "

" The present study suggests that progressive walking, simple strength training

movements and stretching activities are effective at improving physical,

emotional and social function, key symptoms and self-efficacy in women with

fibromyalgia who are being actively treated with medication. Furthermore, the

benefits of exercise are enhanced when combined with targeted self-management

education, and improvements in physical function continue for six months after

completion of the intervention. Our findings suggest the need for inclusion of

appropriate exercise and patient education in the treatment of individuals with

fibromyalgia, " the authors wrote.

" Group Exercise, Education, and Combination Self-management in Women With

Fibromyalgia - A Randomized Trial "

S. Rooks, ScD; Shiva Gautam, PhD; Romeling, BS; Martha L. Cross,

BS; Stratigakis, BA; Brittany , BS; Don L. Goldenberg, MD; Maura D.

Iversen, DPT, SD, MPH; N. Katz, MD, MS

Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(20):2192-2200.

Click here to view abstract online

Written by & #1475; Christian Nordqvist