A training program for fibromyalgia management: A 5-year pilot study

High-intensity interval training for chronic pain conditions: a narrative review

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists past the normal healing time. Physical activity and exercise programs are increasingly being promoted and used for a variety of chronic pain conditions. Evidence suggests that physical exercise is an intervention with few adverse events that may improve pain severity and physical function, thus improving the quality of life. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve physical outcome measures and to decrease disorder-related disability in people with chronic disorders. Since an overview of the benefits of HIIT on chronic pain conditions has not been published yet, this review aims to report the effects of HIIT alone or in combination with other forms of training on different kind of chronic pain conditions. A search in the main scientific electronic databases was performed. The results of the studies included in this review showed that HIIT is beneficial for several chronic pain conditions, improving pain and physical function. Since HIIT could represent a valid help to conventional drug therapies, it could improve the quality of life of these subjects. The actual quality of evidence remains very low, and further high evidence studies are needed to confirm the promising outcomes reported in this review.

Understanding Experiences of Fibromyalgia Patients Involved in the Fimouv Study During COVID-19 Lockdown

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic implied a period of lockdown for the general population, increasing the risk to develop some physical or mental disorders. In fibromyalgia patients, these disorders are part of the large clinical picture of the syndrome. Fibromyalgia management is especially based on a regular practice of physical activity. Lockdown imposed a break in rhythms, requiring a restructuring of scheduling. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the experiences of fibromyalgia patients during COVID-19 lockdown using a qualitative analysis.

Method: 19 patients (52 ± 9 years old) who completed a 3-month therapeutic education and/or supervised physical activity program were invited to participate (Fimouv study, Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04107948). A sociologist collected data by means of semi-structured interviews and analyzed them using thematic content analysis.

Results: Lockdown exacerbated the main symptoms of fibromyalgia, but adjusting the rhythms of life to fluctuations of these symptoms allowed a better quality of life. Patients felt the lack of physical activity and 68% found alternatives to remain physically active. The reduction of social constraints allowed them to better contend with their pathology. Fibromyalgia stopped being a main priority.

Conclusion: Lockdown was positively experienced by fibromyalgia patients. They linked the absence of physical activity with increased pain and fatigue. Nevertheless, reducing social constraints could be a key for fibromyalgia management, where symptoms seemed to take less space in everyday life.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04107948.

Is active commuting associated with sedentary behaviour and physical activity in women with fibromyalgia? The al-Ándalus project

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the association between active commuting and sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) in women with fibromyalgia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 420 women with fibromyalgia (aged 30 to 74 years old) from Spain. The participants wore an accelerometer during seven days to record ST and PA. They also self-reported patterns of active commuting. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between commuting and accelerometer outcomes. Age, pressure pain threshold, and accelerometer wear time were used as confounders.

RESULTS

There was a negative association between active commuting and ST whereas active commuting was positively associated with moderate PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, total PA, and step count (all p ≤ 0.01). No associations were observed in the older group.

CONCLUSION

Younger women with fibromyalgia who were active commuters spent less ST and were involved in greater PA than passive commuters. This study highlights the importance of promoting active commuting to increase PA among young women with fibromyalgia, while other sources of PA might be recommended for older patients if levels of active commuting are not increased.Implications for rehabilitationActive commuting is a source to increase PA in women with fibromyalgia.Active commuting alone does not seem to be enough to increase PA levels in older women with fibromyalgia and additional PA strategies should be implemented.Promotion of active commuting in young women with fibromyalgia is recommended.