Client-centered lifestyle intervention for men with fibromyalgia syndrome: Is efficacy independent of gender?

AIM

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has a significant impact on daily life, but the fact that most diagnosed individuals are women makes it difficult to understand the occupational needs and lifestyle choices of male patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a client-centered lifestyle intervention program in men with fibromyalgia and compare it with women.

METHODS

The client-centered lifestyle intervention program was applied to 15 men with fibromyalgia in two sessions per week for 4 weeks in individual sessions and compared with data from 15 women who had previously participated in the same program. The Revised Fibromyalgia Questionnaire, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used as outcome measures.

RESULTS

When comparing results between baseline and 4 weeks later, statistically significant differences were found in the male group in the areas of fibromyalgia severity (p = .001), occupational performance (p = .001), occupational satisfaction (p = .001), anxiety (p = .002), depression (p = .005), and life satisfaction (p = .002). It was found that occupational performance and occupational satisfaction increased significantly more in women than in men (p = .004 and p = .001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The client-centered lifestyle intervention was shown to be effective in fibromyalgia severity, occupational performance, occupational satisfaction, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction of both men and women with FMS. Levels of progress in occupational participation could show gender-based differences. The study suggests that more attention should be paid to psychosocial factors when assessing men's occupational participation and planning appropriate interventions.

Exercise Effects on Two Men With Fibromyalgia Syndrome

In 2007, an article was published in this journal about the effects of exercise on two older men with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This new article is an update on how exercise has affected them during a 4-year period since 2007. Results suggest that both these men still function at approximately the same levels (physically and psychosocially) as reported in 2007. This is viewed as a positive finding, because even with all of their FMS symptoms, these two men managed to maintain their functional capacity. It is hard for most older people without FMS to remain motivated enough to accomplish this. Because it is difficult to find specifically published data on men (vs. women) with FMS, this long-term information on these two men is important for professionals who are involved in exercise programming for men with FMS and for those interested in studying exercise effects on men with FMS.

Preliminary findings of a 4-month Tai Chi intervention on tenderness, functional capacity, symptomatology, and quality of life in men with fibromyalgia

The study aimed to determine the effects of a 4-month Tai Chi intervention on tenderness, functional capacity, symptomatology, and quality of life in men with fibromyalgia. The effect of a 3-month detraining period was also analyzed. Six men with fibromyalgia (age 52.3 ± 9.3 years) followed a 4-month Tai Chi intervention. The outcome variables were tenderness, functional capacity (30-second chair stand, handgrip strength, chair sit and reach, back scratch, blind flamingo, 8 feet up and go, and 6-minute walk tests), and self-administered questionnaires. A significant improvement (p = .028) after the intervention period for the chair sit and reach test was found, such improvement was maintained after the detraining phase. Tenderness, symptomatology, and quality of life did not significantly change after the intervention period or the detraining phase. In summary, a 4-month Tai Chi intervention improved lower body flexibility in men with fibromyalgia. This improvement persisted after the detraining period.