Patients with Fibromyalgia Benefit from Aerobic Endurance Exercise Fitness and perceived exertion in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Aerobic fitness effects in fibromyalgia. Assessment of the effects of aquatic therapy on global symptomatology in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. An exercise program in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Muscle stretching exercises and resistance training in fibromyalgia: which is better? A three-arm randomized controlled trial. A randomized, controlled clinical trial of education and physical training for women with fibromyalgia. Efficacy of the "body movement and perception" method in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome: an open pilot study. The efficacy of the Rességuier method in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. A Successful, Long-Term Exercise Program for Women With Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Aerobic exercise versus combined exercise therapy in women with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. High or low intensity aerobic fitness training in fibromyalgia: does it matter? Feasibility and effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program in children with fibromyalgia: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial. The effects of progressive strength training and aerobic exercise on muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness in women with fibromyalgia: a pilot study. Strength training induced adaptations in neuromuscular function of premenopausal women with fibromyalgia: comparison with healthy women Role of physical fitness training in the fibrositis/fibromyalgia syndrome. Utilizing exercise to affect the symptomology of fibromyalgia: a pilot study.
Abstract : Fibromyalgia ( FM ) is a disorder characterised by diffuse widespread musculoskeletal aching and stiffness and multiple tender points [ 1 ] . Its pathophysiology is poorly understood . The influence of aerobic endurance exercise on pain in patients with FM was investigated . Twenty-seven patients ( 25 female , 2 male ) participated in a controlled clinical study and performed 12 weeks of jogging , walking , cycling or swimming following a given schedule .  Twelve sedentary FM patients ( 11 female , 1 male ) served as controls . Before and after training both the study and the control groups were evaluated spiroergometrically .  Tender point pain was quantified by dolorimetry . The painful body surface was estimated by a pain body diagram , and its intensity by a visual analogue scale and a ranking scale . Patients trained for an average of 25 min two to three times a week , with an average intensity of 50 % of maximal oxygen uptake ( VO2max ) . Unlike the control group , the training group exhibited a decrease in heart rate and VO2 and an increase in respiratory quotient during submaximal workload . Maximal performance capacity and VO2max remained unchanged , whereas the wattpulse ( watt/heart rate ) improved at maximal workload . Pain parameters remained unchanged in the control group , but in the training group the mean number of positive tender points ( 15.4/12.7 ) , the mean pain threshold of the gluteal tender point ( 2.89 kp/3.50 kp ) and the painful body surface ( 18%/15 % body surface ) decreased significantly . Subjective general pain condition deteriorated in two patients but improved in 17 . Our results suggest a positive effect of aerobic endurance exercise on fitness and well-being in patients with FM OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiorespiratory fitness and perceived exertion of female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome ( FMS ) compared with that of healthy female subjects . DESIGN AND SUBJECTS This was design ed as a cross-sectional case-control study , with a consecutive sample of 30 female patients with FMS and an age-matched control group of 67 healthy female subjects . SETTING This study was conducted at the multidisciplinary pain center of a university hospital in a city of more than 1 million inhabitants . OUTCOME MEASURES A cardiorespiratory fitness index ( PWC65%/kg ) and an original perceived exertion index ( B65 % ) were obtained from the  heart rates and perceived exertions scored on a 10-point Borg scale during a submaximal cycle ergometer test .  Average indexes for the FMS patients and control subjects were compared . RESULTS The mean cardiorespiratory fitness index of the FMS patients was not significantly different from that of the controls . The mean perceived exertion index in the FMS patients was significantly greater than that of the controls , meaning that the FMS patients systematic ally reported higher ratings of perceived exertion during exercise . CONCLUSIONS Cardiorespiratory fitness , as expressed by a submaximal work capacity index , seems normal in female patients with FMS compared with age- and sex-matched healthy individuals . The fact that FMS patients overscore their perception of exertion may be due to a greater overlap of peripheral pain and perceived exertion perceptions during exercise . This observation should be noted when using perceived exertion scores to prescribe and monitor exercise in FMS patients OBJECTIVE To compare 2 exercise modalities , aerobic fitness training and stretching exercises , in patients with fibromyalgia ( FM ) in relation to function , pain , quality of life , depression , and anxiety , and to correlate the cardiorespiratory fitness gain with symptom improvement . METHODS Seventy-six women with FM between 18 and 60 years old were r and omized to either an aerobic program or stretching program , for 20 weeks . They were evaluated at the beginning of the program and after 10 and 20 weeks in relation to the improvement of aerobic fitness , flexibility , function , Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQ ) , Short-form Health Survey ( SF-36 ) , and depression and anxiety levels . Ventilatory anaerobic threshold ( VT ) and maximum oxygen uptake ( VO2max ) were determined by expired gas analyses . RESULTS Aerobic exercise was superior to stretching in relation to VO2 max , VT , function , depression , pain , and the emotional aspects and mental health domains of SF-36 . Patients in the stretching group showed no improvement in depression , " role emotional , " and " mental health . " No association was noted between improvement in aerobic fitness as measured by VT and the improvement of pain , function , or scores in FIQ and SF-36 . CONCLUSION Our results confirm that aerobic exercise is beneficial to patients with FM , but the cardiorespiratory fitness gain is not related to improvement of FM symptoms OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of a 16-week exercise therapy in a chest-high pool of warm water through applicable tests in the clinical practice on the global symptomatology of women with fibromyalgia ( FM ) and to determine exercise adherence levels . DESIGN A r and omized controlled trial . SETTING Testing and training were completed at the university . PARTICIPANTS Middle-aged women with FM ( n=60 ) and healthy women ( n=25 ) . INTERVENTION A 16-week aquatic training program , including strength training , aerobic training , and relaxation exercises . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Tender point count ( syringe calibrated ) , health status ( Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ) ; sleep quality ( Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ) ; physical ( endurance strength to low loads tests ) , psychologic ( State Anxiety Inventory ) , and cognitive function ( Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task ) ; and adherence 12 months after the completion of the study . RESULTS For all the measurements , the patients showed significant deficiencies compared with the healthy subjects . Efficacy analysis ( n=29 ) and intent-to-treat analysis ( n=34 ) of the exercise therapy was effective in decreasing the tender point count and improving sleep quality , cognitive function , and physical function . Anxiety remained unchanged during the follow-up . The exercise group had a significant improvement of health status , not associated exclusively with the exercise intervention . There were no changes in the control group . Twenty-three patients in the exercise group were exercising regularly 12 months after completing the program . CONCLUSIONS An exercise therapy 3 times a week for 16 weeks in a warm pool could improve most of the symptoms of FM and cause a high adherence to exercise in unfit women with heightened FM symptomatology . The therapeutic intervention 's effects can be assessed through applicable tests in the clinical practice OBJECTIVE To assess the utility of an exercise program , which included aerobic , flexibility and strengthening elements , in the treatment of fibromyalgia ( FM ) . FM is a chronic musculoskeletal condition characterized by diffuse musculoskeletal pain and aching . It has been suggested that aerobic exercise is helpful in its treatment . METHODS We studied 60 patients who met American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM and had no significant comorbidities . Measurements performed on each patient at the pre and post study assessment included the number of tender points ( TP ) , total myalgic scores ( TM ) , aerobic fitness ( AF ) , flexibility and isokinetic strength . After initial evaluation patients were r and omly assigned to either an exercise or a relaxation group . Each group met 3 times per week for 6 weeks for 1 h of supervised exercise or relaxation . All patients data were stored in a computerized data base and statistical analysis was performed on all pre and post study assessment s. RESULTS Thirty-eight patients ( 18 exercise and 20 relaxation ) completed the study . Analysis of our data showed no significant difference between the groups in their pre study assessment . Post study assessment s , however , showed a significant improvement between the exercise and relaxation groups in TP ( p < 0.05 ) , TM ( p < 0.05 ) , and AF ( p < 0.05 ) . Similar improvements were also found when the pre and post study assessment of the exercise group were compared . CONCLUSION Exercise is helpful in the management of FM in the short term . It also shows that FM patients can undertake an exercise program which includes aerobic , flexibility , and strength training exercises without adverse effects . The long term utility of this type of exercise requires further evaluation BACKGROUND Exercise therapy is an effective component of fibromyalgia ( FM ) treatment . However , it is important to know the effects and specificities of the different types of exercise : muscle stretching and resistance training . AIM To verify and compare the effectiveness of muscle stretching exercise and resistance training for symptoms and quality of life in FM patients . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . SETTING Physical therapy service , FM outpatient clinic . POPULATION Forty-four women with FM ( 79 screened ) . METHODS Patients were r and omly allocated into a stretching group ( N.=14 ) , resistance group ( N.=16 ) , and control group ( N.=14 ) . Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale , pain threshold using a Fischer dolorimeter , FM symptoms using the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQ ) , and quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey ( SF-36 ) . The three intervention groups continued with usual medical treatment . In addition , the stretching and resistance groups performed two different exercise programs twice a week for 12 weeks . RESULTS After treatment , the stretching group showed the highest SF-36 physical functioning score ( P=0.01 ) and the lowest bodily pain score ( P=0.01 ) . The resistance group had the lowest FIQ depression score ( P=0.02 ) . The control group had the highest score for FIQ morning tiredness and stiffness , and the lowest score for SF-36 vitality . In clinical analyses , the stretching group had significant improvement in quality of life for all SF-36 domains , and the resistance group had significant improvement in FM symptoms and in quality of life for SF-36 domains of physical functioning , vitality , social function , emotional role , and mental health . CONCLUSIONS Muscle stretching exercise was the most effective modality in improving quality of life , especially with regard to physical functioning and pain , and resistance training was the most effective modality in reducing depression . CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT The trial included a control group and two intervention groups , both of which received exercise programs created specifically for patients with FM . In clinical practice , we suggest including both modalities in an exercise therapy program for FM OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of self-management education and physical training in decreasing fibromyalgia ( FMS ) symptoms and increasing physical and psychological well being . METHODS A pretest-posttest control group design was used . Ninety-nine women with FMS were r and omly assigned to 1 of 3 groups ; 86 completed the study . The education only group received a 6-week self-management course . The education plus physical training group received the course and 6 h of training design ed to assist them to exercise independently . The control group got treatment after 3 months . RESULTS The experimental programs had a significant positive impact on quality of life and self-efficacy . Helplessness , number of days feeling bad , physical dysfunction , and pain in the tender points decreased significantly in one or both of the treated groups when retested 6 weeks after the end of the program . Longterm followup of 67 treated subjects showed significant positive changes on the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire primarily in the physical training group . Among all subjects , 87 % were exercising at least 3 times/week for 20 min or more ; 46 % said they had increased their exercise level since participating in the program ; 70 % were practicing relaxation strategies as needed ; 46 % were working at least half time as opposed to 37 % at pretest . CONCLUSION Self-efficacy of the treated groups was enhanced significantly by the program . Other changes were smaller and more delayed than had been expected . Recommendations for future trials include a longer education program , more vigorous physical training , and longterm followup OBJECTIVES Group exercises may be useful in fibromyalgia syndrome ( FMS ) .  The ' Body movement and perception ' ( BMP ) method is based on low impact exercises , awareness of body perception and relaxation , aim ed at treating small groups of patients following the Resseguier method ( RM ) and integrating RM with exercises derived from soft gymnastics . We assessed the effects of BMP method on FMS . METHODS 40 women with FMS ( age and disease duration : 51.7±7.2 and 4.9±3.8 years ) participated in an open pilot study . BMP sessions were performer twice a week ( 50 minutes each ) for 8 weeks . Patients were assessed at enrolment ( T0 ) and at the end of the study ( T1 ) by a self-administered question naire ( temporal characteristics of pain , pain interference in working and recreational activities and in night-time rest , awareness of pain , fatigue , irritability , well-being , quality of movement , ability to focus on perception and to perceive whole body , postural selfcontrol , ability to relax ) and a clinical evaluation ( tender points , assumption of analgesics/NSAIDs , distribution of pain , pain in sitting and st and ing position , pain during postural passages and gait , postural body alignment , muscular contractures ) . RESULTS At T1 , FMS patients significantly improved with respect to T0 in pain , fatigue , irritability , well-being , quality of movement , postural self-control , ability to relax mind and body , movement perception , tender point scores , assumption of analgesic/NSAIDs , body alignment and muscle contractures ( p<0.05 for all the comparisons T1 versus T0 ) . CONCLUSIONS In FMS patients , rehabilitation with BMP  improves pain and well being , reduces the number of tender points and muscle contractures , thus it is useful in FMS management OBJECTIVES In fibromyalgia syndrome ( FMS ) defined rehabilitation guidelines are yet to be vali date d. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy of the Rességuier method ( RM ) in FMS . METHODS Forty-one patients were r and omly assigned to Interventional ( 22 pts ) and Observational ( 19 pts ) Group ( IG and OG ) . The study lasted 8 months . Patients were assessed at baseline ( T0 ) after a 2-month rehabilitation ( T1 ) and at a 6-month follow-up ( T2 ) ( only IG ) with SF-36 Physical ( PSI ) and Mental Synthetic Index ( MSI ) , Regional Pain Scale ( RPS ) , Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQ ) , Number Rating Scales 0 - 10 to measure pain , movement quality , sleep , relax ability , analgesics number/per week . OG patients maintained their lifestyle for the duration of the study . RM aims to obtain patient awareness and control of bodily perceptions , thus reaching a modulation of responses to pain . Therapist controls patient attention and perception by verbal and manual contacts and leads them to perform bodily and respiratory active and conscious movements . RESULTS In IG , at T1 all items were improved : PSI and MSI ( p<0.001 and = 0.001 ) , FIQ ( p<0.0001 ) , RPS ( p<0.001 ) , pain ( p<0.0001 ) , movement quality ( p=0.001 ) , relax ability ( p<0.0001 ) , sleep ( p<0.001 ) ; analgesics number/per week was reduced ( p<0.001 ) . All results obtained at T1 , except FIQ , were maintained at T2 . In OG at T1 versus T0 , no difference in any of the assessed parameters was observed . CONCLUSION In FMS patients , the rehabilitation with RM  improves HRQoL , FMS-related disability and perceived pain , thus reducing the assumption of analgesics This article describes an ongoing , long-term clinical exercise program for women with fibromyalgia syndrome ( FMS ) , some of whom also have chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome ( CFIDS ) . The recorded outcomes from the most recent year of the program also are reported . Participants engaged in sessions lasting 50 - 70 minutes , 5 days per week ; each session involved aerobic activity , resistance training , and other dynamic exercise . One group was in the program for 3 years and another group was in the program for 2 years . Program outcomes for the year ( comparing beginning and end-of-year results ) are presented for both groups on physical fitness , psychosocial , and FMS/CFIDS symptoms . The outcomes support that all of the women appear to have benefited from the program in numerous ways , suggesting that the program works . Also , those outcomes are in agreement with past research reported in this journal . Implication s for clinical nurse specialists working with FMS/CFIDS patients are discussed OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of supervised aerobic exercise ( AE ) and a combined program of supervised aerobic , muscle strengthening , and flexibility exercises ( combined exercise [ CE ] ) on important health outcomes in women with fibromyalgia syndrome ( FMS ) . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . SETTING Community-based supervised intervention . PARTICIPANTS Women ( N=64 ) with a diagnosis of FMS according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria . INTERVENTION Participants were r and omly allocated to 1 of 3 groups : supervised AE , supervised CE , or usual-care control . Exercise sessions were performed twice weekly ( 45 - 60min/session ) for 24 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQ ) . Exploratory outcome measures were the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey , Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) , aerobic capacity ( 6-minute walk test ) , h and -grip strength , and range of motion in the shoulders and hips . RESULTS Compliance with both interventions was excellent , with women in the exercise groups attending more than 85 % of sessions . A 14 % to 15 % improvement from baseline in total FIQ score was observed in the exercise groups ( P≤.02 ) and was accompanied by decreases in BDI scores of 8.5 ( P<.001 ) and 6.4 ( P<.001 ) points in the AE and CE groups , respectively . Relative to nonexercising controls , CE evoked improvements in the SF-36 Physical Functioning ( P=.003 ) and Bodily Pain ( P=.003 ) domains and was more effective than AE for evoking improvements in the Vitality ( P=.002 ) and Mental Health ( P=.04 ) domains . Greater improvements also were observed in shoulder/hip range of motion and h and grip strength in the CE group . CONCLUSION Given the equivalent time commitment required for AE and CE , our results suggest that women with FMS can gain additional health benefits by engaging in a similar volume of CE OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of training in fibromyalgia ( FM ) , we compared the effects of high intensity fitness training ( HIF ) and low intensity fitness training ( LIF ) . METHODS Thirty-seven female patients with FM were r and omly allocated to either a HIF group ( n = 19 ) or a LIF group ( n = 18 ) . Four patients ( 1 HIF group , 3 LIF group ) refused to participate after r and omization but before the start of the intervention . They were excluded from the analysis . Assessment s were performed at baseline and after 20 weeks of HIF or LIF . The primary outcome was patient 's global assessment [ on 100 mm visual analog scale ( VAS ) ] . Secondary endpoints were pain , number of tender points , total myalgic score , physical fitness , health status , and psychological distress . RESULTS One patient in the HIF group ( n = 18 ) and 2 in the LIF group ( n = 15 ) stopped training sessions during the course of the study . Nine of 18 patients in the HIF group compared to 8 of 15 patients in the LIF group achieved a participation rate of 67 % or more . Most important reasons for nonadherence were postexercise pain and fatigue , time consumption , and stress . The VAS for global well being improved slightly from 64 to 56 mm in the HIF group , and did not change in the LIF group ( 58 to 61 mm ) ( p = 0.07 ) . The Wmax ( physical fitness ) changed modestly from 110 to 123 watt in the HIF group , and from 97 to 103 watt in the LIF group ( p = 0.3 ) . VAS for pain increased from 53 to 64 mm in the HIF group and from 52 to 54 mm in the LIF group . The large st and ard deviations around mean change in global assessment s , number of tender points , total myalgic score , and psychological distress ( by SCL-90 ) severely influenced the power to detect within- and between-group differences . Analysis limited to those patients who accomplished a high attendance rate ( > 67 % ) showed similar results . CONCLUSION High intensity physical fitness training compared to low intensity physical fitness training leads to only modest improvements in physical fitness and general well being in patients with FM , and does not positively affect psychological status and general health OBJECTIVE To determine the feasibility of conducting a r and omized controlled trial of a 12-week exercise intervention in children with fibromyalgia ( FM ) and to explore the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on physical fitness , function , pain , FM symptoms , and quality of life ( QOL ) . METHODS FM patients ages 8 - 18 years were r and omized to a 12-week exercise intervention of either aerobics or qigong . Both groups participated in 3 weekly training sessions . Program adherence and safety were monitored at each session . Data were collected at 3 testing sessions , 2 prior to and 1 after the intervention , and included FM symptoms , function , pain , QOL , and fitness measures . RESULTS Thirty patients participated in the trial . Twenty-four patients completed the program ; 4 patients dropped out prior to training and 2 dropped out of the aerobics program . Better adherence was reported in the aerobics group than in the qigong group ( 67 % versus 61 % ) . Significant improvements in physical function , functional capacity , QOL , and fatigue were observed in the aerobics group . Anaerobic function , tender point count , pain , and symptom severity improved similarly in both groups . CONCLUSION It is feasible to conduct an exercise intervention trial in children with FM . Children with FM tolerate moderate-intensity exercise without exacerbation of their disease . Significant improvements in physical function , FM symptoms , QOL , and pain were demonstrated in both exercise groups ; the aerobics group performed better in several measures compared with the qigong group . Future studies may need larger sample sizes to confirm clinical improvement and to detect differences in fitness in childhood FM OBJECTIVE To determine the safety , feasibility and consequences of a program of progressive strength training and cardiovascular exercise in women with fibromyalgia syndrome ( FMS ) . METHODS Fifteen women with confirmed FMS were monitored for injury and exercise compliance , and assessed for muscle strength ( 1-repetition maximum technique ) , cardiovascular endurance ( 6-minute walk test ) , and functional status ( Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire [ FIQ ] ) before and after a 20-week exercise intervention . RESULTS Zero injuries and an 81 % compliance rate occurred during training . Improvement was seen in muscle strength of the lower ( 191 + /- 75 to 265 + /- 67 pounds ; P < 0.001 ) and upper ( 61 + /- 18 to 76 + /- 18 pounds ; P < 0.001 ) body , 6-minute walk distance ( 530 + /- 80 to 629 + /- 74 meters ; P < 0.001 ) , and in FIQ score ( 44 + /- 9 to 32 + /- 14 ; P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION A program of progressive strength training and cardiovascular exercise can be safe , well tolerated , and effective at improving muscle strength , cardiovascular endurance and functional status in women with FMS without exacerbating symptoms . This program may also contribute to a reduction in the severity of several symptoms OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of 21 weeks ' progressive strength training on neuromuscular function and subjectively perceived symptoms in premenopausal women with fibromyalgia ( FM ) . METHODS Twenty one women with FM were r and omly assigned to experimental ( FMT ) or control ( FMC ) groups . Twelve healthy women served as training controls ( HT ) . The FMT and HT groups carried out progressive strength training twice a week for 21 weeks . The major outcome measures were muscle strength and electromyographic ( EMG ) recordings . Secondary outcome measures were pain , sleep , fatigue , physical function capacity ( Stanford Health Assessment Question naire ) , and mood ( short version of Beck 's depression index ) . RESULTS Female FMT subjects increased their maximal and explosive strength and EMG activity to the same extent as the HT group . Moreover , the progressive strength training showed immediate benefits on subjectively perceived fatigue , depression , and neck pain of training patients with FM . CONCLUSIONS The strength training data indicate comparable trainability of the neuromuscular system of women with FM and healthy women .  Progressive strength training can safely be used in the treatment of FM to decrease the impact of the syndrome on the neuromuscular system , perceived symptoms , and functional capacity . These results confirm the opinion that FM syndrome has a central rather than a peripheral or muscular basis Cardiovascular fitness training has been suggested as a treatment for the fibrositis/fibromyalgia syndrome . Thirty-four patients with fibrositis/fibromyalgia who met Smythe 's original criteria were r and omly assigned to enter either a cardiovascular fitness training program or a program consisting only of flexibility exercises . Patients met in supervised groups three times weekly for a 20-week observation period . The cardiovascular fitness group underwent gradual heart rate-elevated training using a bicycle ergometer and achieved a 29.1 + /- 24.4 percent increase in peak work capacity at 170 beats per minute ( PWC-170 ) . Patients undergoing flexibility training had a net reduction in their PWC-170 scores of 4.3 + /- 9.4 percent . Patients in the cardiovascular fitness group had statistically significant improvements in the visual analogue pain scale of current pain intensity ; total myalgic scores in which pain thresholds at five fibrositic tender points selected for acceptable intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were measured using a dolorimeter ; percentage total body area affected as measured by self-administered pain diagrams ; and patients ' and physicians ' global assessment scores . Psychologic profiles as measured by Symptom Checklist-90R also improved in the cardiovascular fitness group compared with the flexibility training group . It is concluded that cardiovascular fitness training is feasible in patients with fibrositis/fibromyalgia and that such training improves subjective measurements of pain-reporting behavior . A theoretic basis for improvements in pain measurement scales and psychologic profiles is discussed in light of recent literature UNLABELLED Fibromyalgia ( FM ) , a rheumatological disorder of unknown origin , is characterized by both physical and psychological symptoms . Although inconclusive results have been reported for most treatment modalities , exercise appears to have universal support for decreasing the myriad of symptoms associated with FM . Weaknesses in the literature , however , prevent conclusive statements regarding exercise prescription and concomitant impact on FM symptomology . PURPOSE The current pilot study attempted to examine the effect of a 24-wk walking program at predetermined intensities on FM . METHODS Initial design was a r and omized control trial with  high- and low-intensity exercise groups  , and a control group . Subsequent nonr and omized control trials were based on actual exercise behavior . RESULTS No differences between initial groups were identified . By collapsing groups , heart rate ( HR ) decreased ( P < 0.05 ) weeks 0 - 12 . Functional impairments were reduced 54 % weeks 0 - 24 , with exercise having a large impact ( omega2 = 0.30 ) on this decrease . By reassigning groups , impact of FM on current health status decreased in the low-intensity group ( P < 0.05 ) and increased in the high-intensity group ( P < 0.02 ) weeks 0 - 24 . Omega squared indicated strong influence of exercise on pain ( omega2 = 0.51 ) , with greater pain in the high-intensity group . CONCLUSIONS A larger number of subjects and direct supervision of the training program to increase compliance is necessary to clarify the effects of a walking program on the manifestations of FM . Results indicate that intensity of the walking program is an important consideration . Individuals with FM can adhere to low-intensity walking programs two to three times per week , possibly reducing FM impact on daily activities
There is ' gold ' level evidence ( www.cochranemsk.org ) that supervised aerobic exercise training has beneficial effects on physical capacity and FMS symptoms .
Strength training may also have benefits on some FMS symptoms .
BACKGROUND Fibromyalgia ( FMS ) is a syndrome expressed by chronic widespread body pain which leads to reduced physical function and frequent use of health care services .
Exercise training is commonly recommended as a treatment .
This is an up date of a review published in Issue 2 , 2002 .
OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of exercise training including cardiorespiratory ( aerobic ) , muscle strengthening , and /or flexibility exercise on global well-being , selected signs and symptoms , and physical function in individuals with FMS .