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The following studies concluded that exercise can be useful in treating anyone who suffers from fibromyalgia. ---------------- Prescribed exercise in people with fibromyalgia: parallel group randomised controlled trial. Richards SC, Scott DL. BMJ 2002 Jul 27; 325(7357):185 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%) vs 12/67 (18%). Benefits were maintained or improved at one year follow up, when fewer participants in the exercise group fulfilled the criteria for fibromyalgia (31/69 vs 44/67). People in the exercise group also had greater reductions in tender point counts (4.2 vs 2.0) and in scores on the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (4.0 vs 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Prescribed graded aerobic exercise is a simple, cheap, effective, and potentially widely available treatment for fibromyalgia. *** You can download the entire article free at: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7357/185 ----------------------- Arthritis Care Res 1999 Apr; 12(2):120-8 A randomized, controlled trial of exercise and education for individuals with fibromyalgia. Gowans SE, deHueck A, Voss S, Richardson M. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a 6-week exercise and educational program for patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Forty-one subjects were randomly assigned to the program or served as waiting list controls. Program outcome was assessed with a 6-minute walk test, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, a Self-Efficacy Scale, and a "knowledge" questionnaire (based on information provided during the educational sessions). Waiting list control subjects subsequently completed the program. Program outcome was reassessed 3 or 6 months post-program. RESULTS: The program produced significant improvements in 6-minute walk distance, well-being, fatigue, self-efficacy (for controlling pain and other symptoms), and knowledge. At followup, immediate gains in walk distance, well-being, and self-efficacy were maintained, but gains in fatigue and knowledge were lost. CONCLUSION: Short-term exercise and educational programs can produce immediate and sustained benefits for patients with fibromyalgia. The benefits of our program may be due to exercise or education since both interventions were given. ---------------- Scand J Rheumatol 1996;25(2):77-86 Effects of aerobic exercise versus stress management treatment in fibromyalgia. A 4.5 year prospective study. Wigers SH, Stiles TC, Vogel PA. Dept of Physical Med and Rehab, University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway. To determine and compare short- and long-term effects of aerobic exercise (AE), stress management treatment (SMT), and treatment-as-usual (TAU) in fibromyalgia, 60 patients were randomized to 14 weeks of treatment by either AE, SMT or TAU. Outcome measures at baseline, midway through treatment, at treatment completion, and at 4 year follow up included a patient made drawing of pain distribution, dolorimetry of tender points, ergometer cycle test, global subjective improvement, and VAS registrations of: pain, disturbed sleep, lack of energy, and depression. Both AE and SMT showed positive short-term effects. AE was the overall most effective treatment, despite being subject to the most sceptical patient attitude prior to the study. At follow up, there were no obvious group differences in symptom severity, which for AE seemed to be due to a considerable compliance problem. ------------------ J Rheumatol 1996 Jun; 23(6): 1050-3 An exercise program in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Martin L, Nutting A, MacIntosh BR, Edworthy SM, Butterwick D, Cook J. Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 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 poststudy assessment included the number of tender points (TP), total myalgic scores (TM), aerobic fitness (AF), flexibility and isokinetic strength. After initial evaluation patients were randomly 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 database and statistical analysis was performed on all pre and poststudy assessments. 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 prestudy assessment. Poststudy assessments, however, showed a significant improvement between the exercise and relaxation groups in TP, TM, and AF. Similar improvements were also found when the pre and poststudy 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. ----------------- Dr Mel C Siff Denver, USA http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/