Interesting Article on Exercise and Fibromyalgia

General
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Science Daily News

Regular, Moderate Exercise Does Not Worsen Pain in People With Fibromyalgia

Yet a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center shows that exercise does not worsen the pain associated with the disorder and may even lessen it over time. The findings are published in the current online issue of the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

According to Dennis Ang, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist and senior author of the study, doing light to moderate exercise over a prolonged period of time improves overall symptoms, such as fatigue and trouble sleeping, while not increasing pain.

“For many people with fibromyalgia, they will exercise for a week or two and then start hurting and think that exercise is aggravating their pain, so they stop exercising,” Ang said. “We hope that our findings will help reduce patients’ fear and reassure them that sustained exercise will improve their overall health and reduce their symptoms without worsening their pain.”

To evaluate the relationship between long-term maintenance of moderate intensity exercise, defined as light jogging or brisk walking for 20 minutes a day, the research team enrolled 170 volunteers to participate in a 36-week study. Participants received individualized exercise prescriptions and completed baseline and follow-up physical activity assessments using the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire at weeks 12, 24 and 36.

The study found that participants who engaged in moderate intensity exercise for at least 12 weeks showed greater improvements in clinical symptoms as compared to participants who were unable to achieve higher levels of physical activity.

More importantly, Ang said, the findings showed that long-term physical activity at levels consistent with current medical recommendations is not associated with worsening pain symptoms in fibromyalgia.

Approximately 10 percent of the adult population in the United States has fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia-like conditions. The disorder is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by sleep disturbance, fatigue and memory issues. Experts believe that fibromyalgia is a disorder of pain processing due to abnormalities in how pain signals are processed in the central nervous system.

The study was supported by grant 1RO1AR054324-01A1 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Co-authors are Anthony Kaleth, Ph.D., Chandan Saha, Ph.D., and James Slaven, M.S., of Indiana University; and Mark Jensen, Ph.D., of …

I must admit that when I keep on exercising I do feel better, but it’s really hard to keep it going. I’d be interested in hearing others thoughts on this.

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I. TAKE 1-2 WALKS A DAY WITH MY DOG I ALSO WALK TO/FROM WORK ERRANDS TO SEE MY FRIEND BOTH DR SANTIAGO AND CNP SAID TO WALK AS MUCH AS I CAN BUT IF IM TO TIRED ILL REST AND TAKE IT LATER OR A SHORT WALK
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Really? They actually found people with fibro who could jog or walk briskly for 20 minutes a day? I'm LOLing just thinking of this. I can LIMP 20 minutes a day, yes. LOL. Who puts this stuff out and how do they find fibro people who can do this level of exercise for 2 weeks in a row? I'm calling BS on this research. Yes, exercise that WE can manage does help us to feel better but it has to be exercise that WE can do.

Geez. (SMH.)

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Hi everyone thanks for your replies. Sorry for the delay in following up on the discussion, my husband is in the hospital and I’m spending a lot of time there these these days



I really think that the study is based on fibro patients more like me. Like most I have various medical conditions, like some I am overweight, and although I do have some major flare ups and hurt some (5-6) most days, most times my major issues are insomnia, or sleeping all the time or exhaustion. I usually have five better months from May to September. I am also retired although I did work for 10 years 10-12 hr days)with fibro and found that other than the basics, I slept the other times.



Just noticed that the study doesn’t appear to recognize it that there are different levels of fibro and this article does not indicate the actual number of participants that got through the 12 weeks. Hmmm, I’m going to see if I can find the actual study.



When I exercise, whether it be 20 minutes walks (not the smoothest walker as somewhat unbalanced ( physically that is lol) or working out at the gym, the pain doesn’t seem to get worse although I’m tired; it’s a good tired. I’m also finding I sleep better and the exhaustion seems to catch up to me later during the day. Still not up to 7 days a week yet, about 4, but previously was spending a lot of time in bed or on the couch;maybe eating bonbons; I sure packed on the weight.



Maybe my idea of exercise is wrong, but to me it means any and all activity where you’re moving, whether it be taking the dog for a walk, walking to work, grocery shopping, doing errands, doing some housework, doing laundry, gardening, using the treadmill, doing chair exercises, or whatever you can comfortably do.



Thanks again for your responses

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I'm with you on that one Petunia! I believe there are different levels of fibro. Whatever works for you. I think so long as you keep moving whether that be just doing errands, housecleaning, walking the dog that to me combined with our everyday obligations if managed is great! Meds also contribute to fatigue...how does exercise combat that? BS in my books too!!