Maintenance of exercise in women with fibromyalgia

Abstract

Objective. To identify predictors of maintenance of exercise for women with fibromyalgia (FM).Methods. Women with FM who had been randomized to the exercise arm of a clinical trial were studied prospectively during and 3 months following treatment. Subjects completed exercise logs weekly and returned the data via postal mail. Outcome variables were duration of aerobic and stretching exercises. Two separate multivariate models for longitudinal data were built with adjustment for in-treatment adherence and time. Pretreatment characteristics (self efficacy, pain, disability, stress, exercise barriers and benefits, and age) and changes during treatment (pain, disability, stress, and exercise barriers and benefits) were considered potential predictors of exercise maintenance. Results. Stretching significantly decreased in the 3 months following treatment. High stress at baseline and increases in stress during treatment were associated with poor maintenance of stretching. Disability at baseline (measured with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), an increase in barriers to exercise during treatment, and increases in upper-body pain during treatment were associated with worse maintenance of aerobic exercise in the 3 months following treatment. Conclusion. The maintenance of an exercise program in women with FM appears to be contingent on being able to deal with stress, pain, barriers to exercise, and disability.

Aerobic exercise in fibromyalgia: a practical review

“…Bush et al [15] found that the attrition rates for the AE intervention groups averaged 27% (SD 18.9%, range 0-67%). As shown by Dobkin et al [38], higher baseline disability and increases in barriers to exercise during treatment predicted worse maintenance of AE over follow-up period. Patients may beneWt from cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) that could teach these patients stress management techniques to limit barriers to exercise participation.…”

Andar como forma de ejercicio físico en la Fibromialgia: un estudio de identificación de creencias desde la Teoría de la Acción Planeada

“…From an economic perspective, walking is a health tool that is inexpensive, and if the patient maintains it, is efficient even when compared to pharmacological treatment, therefore reducing socio-sanitary public spending associated to fibromyalgia (Richards & Scott, 2002). Nevertheless, some studies have shown that patients tend to present poor adherence to different exercise recommendations, even walking (Dobkin, Abrahamovicz, Fitzcharles, Dritsa & Costa, 2005;Dobkin, Da Costa et al, 2006;Meyer & Lemley, 2000;Schachter et al, 2003).…”

Benefits of physical training in fibromyalgia and related syndromes

“…Da Costa et al [19] observed functional improvement and pain decrease in patients attending a home exercise program for 12 weeks. However, according to Dobkin et al [21], a supervised program results in additional benefits because of the lower long-term adherence observed in a home program. Tiidus et al [76], as well as Dawson et al [20], studied the benefits of physical training programs (including aerobic, strength and flexibility exercises).…”