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http://bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/325/7357/185

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Collections under which this article appears: Randomized Controlled Trials: examples Other Rheumatology Physiotherapy Musculoskeletal syndromes (including chronic fatigue and Gulf war syndromes)

BMJ 2002;325:185 ( 27 July )
 

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Prescribed exercise in people with fibromyalgia: parallel group randomised controlled trial

Selwyn C M Richards, consultant rheumatologist, ^a David L Scott, professor of clinical rheumatology. ^b

Correspondence to: S C M Richards srichards@poole-tr.swest.nhs.uk

Objectives: To evaluate cardiovascular fitness exercise in people with fibromyalgia.
Design: Randomised controlled trial.
Setting: Hospital rheumatology outpatients. Group based classes took place at a "healthy living centre."
Participants: 132 patients with fibromyalgia.
Interventions: Prescribed graded aerobic exercise (active treatment) and relaxation and flexibility (control treatment).
Main outcome measures: Participants' self assessment of improvement, tender point count, impact of condition measured by fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, and short form McGill pain questionnaire.
Results: Compared with relaxation exercise led to significantly more participants rating themselves as much or very much better at three months: 24/69 (35%) v 12/67 (18%), P=0.03. Benefits were maintained or improved at one year follow up when fewer participants in the exercise group fulfilled the criteria for fibromyalgia (31/69 v 44/67, P=0.01). People in the exercise group also had greater reductions in tender point counts (4.2 v 2.0, P=0.02) and in scores on the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (4.0 v 0.6, P=0.07).
Conclusions: Prescribed graded aerobic exercise is a simple, cheap, effective, and potentially widely available treatment for fibromyalgia.

 

© BMJ 2002

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