Fibromyalgia patients who engage in short bursts of physical activity may reduce the symptoms of their disease and improve physical function, according to the results of a trial reported online this week in Arthritis Research & Therapy.1
"Accumulating 30 minutes of LPA [lifestyle physical activity] throughout the day produces clinically relevant changes in perceived physical function and pain in previously minimally active adults with FM."

The study, led by Kevin R. Fontaine, PhD, of johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, assessed the effects of accumulating a minimum of 30 minutes of self-selected lifestyle physical activity on perceived physical function, pain, fatigue, body mass index, depression, tenderness, and the 6-minute walk test. Eighty-four minimally active adults with fibromylalgia participated in the trial, and were assigned to either the physical activity group or a fibromyalgia eduction control group, that received information and support.

According to Dr. Fontaine, "Although exercise has been shown to be beneficial, the symptoms often create obstacles that deter many from exercising consistently enough to derive benefits...The nature of fibromyalgia's symptoms, the body pain and fatigue, make it hard for people with this malady to participate in traditional exercise." In the trial, participants were taught how to perform physical activity intense enough to realize the benefits of exercise, but not so intense that they would be deterred from completing the activity. Climbing stairs, gardening, and walking were all encouraged as part of the physical activity regime.

The study authors concluded that "Accumulating 30 minutes of LPA [lifestyle physical activity] throughout the day produces clinically relevant changes in perceived physical function and pain in previously minimally active adults with FM." The authors go on to caution that providers must encourage their fibromyalgia patients to increase the duration of their activity, since it is low-level exercise. Trying to push patients to do more intense exercise is often met with failure to sustain a higher level of activity, so longer periods of low-level activity is considered a better option for fibromyalgia patients.

Reference
1. Fontaine, Kevin R, Lora Conn, and Daniel J Clauw. Effects of lifestyle physical activity on perceived symptoms and physical function in adults with fibromyalgia: results of a randomized trial. Arthritis Research & Therapy. Published online 29 March 2010.