Kelley GA, Kelley KS, Callahan LF. Are There Interindividual Differences in Anxiety as a Result of Aerobic Exercise Training in Adults With Fibromyalgia? An Ancillary Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2022;
103:1858-1865. [PMID:
35051402 PMCID:
PMC9288562 DOI:
10.1016/j.apmr.2021.12.019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether true interindividual response differences (IIRD) exist with respect to changes in anxiety because of aerobic exercise training in adults with fibromyalgia (FM).
DATA SOURCES
Data from a previous meta-analytical database of randomized controlled trials of exercise in adults with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
STUDY SELECTION
Randomized controlled trials limited to aerobic exercise training on anxiety in adults 18 years or older with FM were included.
DATA EXTRACTION
Change outcome SDs treated as point estimates for anxiety were used to calculate true IIRD from each study. In addition, treatment effect data were extracted.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The inverse variance heterogeneity model was used to pool all results. For the 5 studies and 321 participants in which results were pooled, statistically significant treatment effect reductions in anxiety were observed (mean, -0.77 points, 95% CI, -1.25 to -0.77). However, no significant IIRD were found (mean, 0.6 points, 95% CI, -1.2 to 1.5). The 95% prediction interval for true IIRD in a future study was -1.7 to 0.8. The percent chance, ie, probability, of a clinically meaningful difference in variability, was 61.5% (only possibly clinically important).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the current study suggest that aerobic exercise is associated with reductions in anxiety among adults with fibromyalgia. However, there is currently a lack of convincing evidence to support the notion that true IIRD exist. Therefore, a search for potential mediators and moderators associated with aerobic exercise and changes in anxiety among adults with FM may not be warranted. However, additional research is needed before any true level of certainty can be established. This includes (1) the assessment of IIRD in future randomized controlled trials, (2) randomized controlled trials of longer duration, and (3) an increase in the proportion of men included in randomized controlled trials.
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