The Relationship between Daily Physical Activity, Psychological Factors, and Vegetative Symptoms in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Abstract

Nowadays, there is evidence that relates the amount of physical activity, as well as the impact of psychological factors, to the intensity of symptoms present in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). However, there are no studies which correlate the level of association of physical activity, psychological factors and vegetative symptoms in the FM population. The study has a cross-sectional observational design with 41 participants being recruited from a private clinic and rehabilitation service. The Autonomic Symptom Profile (Compass-31) to assess vegetative symptoms, the GODIN questionnaire to evaluate the level of leisure activity, and the pain catastrophizing scale, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale and Self-Efficacy Scale to assess psychological factors, were used. A low and significant level of association was found between pain catastrophizing (PCS) and Kinesiophobia (r = 0.398; p < 0.01), as well as with catastrophizing and vegetative symptoms (r = 0.428; p < 0.05). Furthermore, a low and significant level of association was also found between self-efficacy and vegetative symptoms (r = 0.397; p < 0.05). No association was found between the level of daily physical activity (measured by the Godin Leisure questionnaire) and vegetative symptoms, nor with any psychological factor studied. There is an association between vegetative symptoms and psychological factors. Nevertheless, more research which takes other factors into account, such as lifestyle and nutritional, is needed.

Changes in Circadian Variations in Blood Pressure, Pain Pressure Threshold and the Elasticity of Tissue after a Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Treatment in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Tripled-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Furthermore, the alteration of circadian rhythms confirms the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction facilitating changes in the gut microbiome, immune function, and autonomic nervous system, finally worsening mental health. In this regard, a relationship between psychological factors and vegetative symptoms has been shown in patients with FM [ 26 ]. Shedding light on potential treatments which improve circadian rhythms and vegetative symptoms can help in better understanding and treating those suffering with FM.…”

Do Psychological Factors Influence the Elastic Properties of Soft Tissue in Subjects with Fibromyalgia? A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

“…There is a total of 10 items with a four-point response scale, resulting in a total score of 0 to 44. A higher score is understood to indicate a greater perception of competence to efficiently handle a stressful situation [ 2 , 6 , 26 ].…”

“…Fibromyalgia (FM) can be defined as a multi-symptom disorder of uncertain origin that manifests with widespread pain, fatigue and sleep problems, anxiety, cognitive disturbances and degenerative or inflammatory behavioural disturbances [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Additionally, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) includes specific criteria such as “the presence of generalized pain which lasts for three months, a digital pressure of 4 kg which causes the sensation of pain, and widespread pain with hypersensitivity measured using a map of the characteristic musculoskeletal points to differentiate the diagnosis of fibromyalgia from other rheumatic and painful disorders” [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…The relationship between psychological factors and autonomic symptoms is well known [ 12 , 13 ]. In this regard, previous studies have shown an association between kinesiophobia, catastrophising, disability and vegetative symptoms in people with FM [ 2 ], as well as identifying stress as a core element in understanding the different psychological responses that FM patients experience [ 12 , 14 ]. Patients suffering from FM very often show early aging symptoms and disease morbidity [ 15 ].…”

“…Low-grade inflammation, the central entity of chronic disease and FM, also affects elasticity of soft tissue and even cartilaginous tissues [ 17 ]. The elastic properties of soft tissue are further influenced or even determined through activity of the sympathetic nervous system [ 2 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”