Effects of home-based exercise on the health of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

PURPOSE: Analyze the effects of interventions with home-based physical exercise on the health of patients with fibromyalgia and the characteristics of the protocols used. METHODS: This systematic review was registered at PROSPERO and followed the PRISMA recommendations. Searches were performed in six electronic databases. Eligibility criteria for the selection of studies were compiled using the acronym PICOS. Data were extracted and checked in a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet and the risk of bias was assessed using the Rob 2 tool. RESULTS: The search resulted in seven studies included for analysis. Among them, the most common modality was aerobic exercise. The analyzed outcomes were: pain, quality of life, depression, anxiety, disease severity, physical function, pain catastrophizing, self-efficacy, psychological well-being, sleep quality and somatosensory and temporal discrimination. The effects of home-based exercise are limited, and improvements in pain and quality of life was found. For the other outcomes, the results were inconclusive. Most studies presented some concerns about the risk of bias. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to expand the evidence on home-based exercises for fibromyalgia, as this is the first systematic review on the subject. Subsequent research should focus on methodological rigor and protocol detail, allowing findings to be replicated.

Home-based physical exercise can improve pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.Among the modalities, combinations of aerobic exercise, resistance training and stretching are recommended.The weekly frequency should be two or three times, with an average duration of 40 minutes.Programs from four weeks onwards may already show improvement in symptoms, but the practice should be maintained in the long term.

Impact of social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the mood profile of active and sedentary older adults: physical activity as a protective factor.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our habits and lifestyle due to social isolation and mobility restrictions. This new scenario, together with the fear of contracting the coronavirus, influenced mental health, especially among older adults, who presented reductions in social contact and physical activity (PA). Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze the impact caused by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic on the mood states of active and sedentary older adults. Methods: This is an observational study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults aged over 60 years, who were registered in the database of the Secretariat for the Promotion of Citizenship from a city in southern Brazil, participated in the research. An online questionnaire was applied with questions about sociodemographic characteristics, level of PA, confinement, and mood states in two periods: May 2020 and June 2021. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the mood states of active and inactive individuals during the pandemic. Results: One hundred and fifty participants answered the questionnaire, of which 80 (53.3%) reported practicing PA. More active older adults suffered fewer changes in mood when compared to inactive older adults, with lower levels of confusion (p = 0.035), depression (p = 0.002), and fatigue (p = 0.000). Older adults confined for more than 50 days were more likely to develop depression. In addition, the mood state correlated with the variable fear of contracting the coronavirus; the greater the fear, the greater the mental confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension, and the lower the vigor in the older adults. The practice of PA is also correlated with the mood state; the greater the number of hours dedicated to PA, the lower the confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension of the older adults. Conclusion: The practice of PA positively influenced the mental health of older adults during periods of isolation and social restrictions. PA has a protective factor for the development of mental health problems and improves mood states, with greater time performing PA leading to more benefits.

The Use of Voice Assistant for Psychological Assessment Elicits Empathy and Engagement While Maintaining Good Psychometric Properties.

This study aimed to use the Alexa vocal assistant as an administerer of psychometric tests, assessing the efficiency and validity of this measurement. A total of 300 participants were administered the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). After a week, the administration was repeated, but the participants were randomly divided into groups of 100 participants each. In the first, the test was administered by means of a paper version; in the second, the questionnaire was read to the participants in person, and the operator contemporaneously recorded the answers declared by the participants; in the third group, the questionnaire was directly administered by the Alexa voice device, after specific reprogramming. The third group was also administered, as a post-session survey, the Engagement and Perceptions of the Bot Scale (EPVS), a short version of the Communication Styles Inventory (CSI), the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS), and an additional six items to measure degrees of concentration, ease, and perceived pressure at the beginning and at the end of the administration. The results confirmed that the IRI did keep measurement invariance within the three conditions. The administration through vocal assistant showed an empathic activation effect significantly superior to the conditions of pencil-paper and operator-in-presence. The results indicated an engagement and positive evaluation of the interactive experience, with reported perceptions of closeness, warmth, competence, and human-likeness associated with higher values of empathetic activation and lower values of personal discomfort.

Effects of strength training in fibromyalgia on balance, neuromuscular performance, and symptomatic analysis: a 12-week study protocol.

Fibromyalgia affects skeletal muscles presenting with muscle stiffness, pain, and fatigue. The exercise practice is wellstabilized and suggested for the reduction of symptoms. However, there are some gaps in the literature related to balance and neuromuscular performance in a strength training protocol. The aim of this study is to structure a protocol to verify the effects of strength training applied over a short period, on balance, neuromuscular performance, and fibromyalgia symptoms. Additionally, we intend to analyze the effects of a short period of cessation of training. Participants will be recruited through flyers, internet advertisements, clinical referrals, health professionals, and email outreach. Volunteers will be randomly assigned to the control group or experimental group. Before the training period, symptoms (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale), balance (force plate), and neuromuscular performance (medicine ball throw and vertical jump) will be assessed. Participants in the experimental group will perform strength training twice a week (50 min each), on alternate days, for 8 weeks (16 sessions). Then, 4 weeks of detraining will be completed. This training program will be carried out online, using real-time videos, and the participants will be divided into two groups with different schedules. The Borg scale will be used to monitor perceived effort in each session. There is a gap in the literature about exercise prescriptions for fibromyalgia. The supervised online intervention enables a wide range of participation. The strength exercises used (without the use of external materials and/or machines) and load (few repetitions per set) represent a novelty to training programming. Moreover, this training program respects the limitations and individuality of the volunteers, providing exercise adaptations. With positive results, the present protocol could be an easy-to-apply guideline with clear instructions on the details related to exercise prescription. Also, ensure the effectiveness of a low-cost and feasible treatment, especially for fibromyalgia patients. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier: NCT05646641.

Effects of resistance training on sleep of patients with fibromyalgia: A systematic review.

This study investigated the effects of resistance training (RT) on the sleep quality of patients with fibromyalgia (FM), through a systematic review. The search was carried out in the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Initially, 148 studies were found, of which six were included for qualitative analysis. Four studies showed significant improvement in sleep after RT. Compared to other exercise modalities, RT proved to be superior to flexibility training and equivalent to aerobic exercise. Interventions lasted from 4 to 21 weeks, the weekly frequency ranged from two to three times, and the intensity ranged from 40% to 80% 1RM, with exercises for the major muscle groups. RT is an intervention that can be used to treat FM, however, more studies are needed to verify its effectiveness in improving sleep.

Effects of Cognitive Appraisals on Perceived Self-Efficacy and Distress during the COVID-19 Lockdown: An Empirical Analysis Based on Structural Equation Modeling.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, individuals and households had to responsibly manage the difficulties and problems caused by the restrictions on their mobility, such as the interruptions to work schedules, insecure food supplies, and the procurement of services and health care. The perceptions of risk as well as the fear of disease were strongly linked to worry, defined as a sequence of thoughts that evoke negative emotions and elevated levels of anxiety and distress. This study evaluated how different cognitive appraisals of an individual's sources of worry could influence their perceived self-efficacy and directly or indirectly moderate their perceived general distress. A sample of 544 participants completed a survey that included questions based on the generalized self-efficacy scale, the sources of concern during the epidemic, the cognitive appraisal scale in emergency, and perceived discomfort. Subsequently, a structural-equation-modeling (SEM) analysis was performed to test the moderating role of cognitive appraisals and perceived self-efficacy on participants' overall distress during a lockdown. Overall, the model reported acceptable fit values and confirmed the hypotheses of the study. An individual's worries activated either a dysfunctional threat appraisal, which prompted a fear-and-closure response that then increased their overall state of distress; or two other functional appraisals (i.e., adaptive or supportive) that contributed to significantly improving the individual's self-efficacy. Higher self-efficacy was shown to be associated with lower levels of perceived distress. For the purposes of prevention and distress containment, it would be appropriate to promote psycho-educational interventions that promote the adoption of appraisal strategies that are functional and beneficial for perceived self-efficacy.

Effects of resistance training on the physical symptoms and functional capacity of patients with fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Resistance training (RT) has become an important topic for the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM); however, there are still controversies regarding its ability to significantly improve physical symptoms and a lack of adequate recommendations for evidence-based practice. AIM: The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of RT on the physical symptoms of patients with FM through a systematic review with meta-analysis. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials in June 2022, according to PRISMA recommendations. The searches were carried out on the databases PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, Web of Science, PEDro, CINAHL, SciELO, and Google Scholar for gray literature, and the protocol was recorded in PROSPERO. Studies that evaluated patients with FM undergoing an RT program lasting more than 2 weeks and that analyzed physical health were selected. To carry out the meta-analysis, the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions were followed. RESULTS: In total, 13 studies were included for qualitative analysis and nine for meta-analysis. Regarding meta-analysis, a favorable improvement was found for pain ([MD = - 10.22 (95% CI: - 18.86 to - 1.58; I2: 64%; P for heterogeneity: 0.003)]; very low quality of evidence {QoE}), fatigue ([SMD = - 0.39 (95% CI: - 0.61 to - 0.17; I2: 0%; P = 0.91)]; moderate QoE), and muscle strength ([SMD = 0.94 (95% CI: 0.02 to 1.85; I2: 93%; for heterogeneity: < 0.0001)]; very low QoE) and improvement in functional capacity ([MD = 18.75 (95% CI: 4.27 to 33.22; I2: 39%; P = 0.19)]; low QoE), in the general comparison. CONCLUSION: RT was effective in reducing pain and fatigue and increasing strength and functional capacity; however, due to the quality of the evidence, more studies are needed.

Brazilian journal of sports medicine: 10 years of indexation on the web of science / Revista brasileña de medicina del deporte: 10 años de indexación en la web of science / Revista brasileira de medicina do esporte: 10 anos de indexação na web of science

ABSTRACT Analyses of scientific production have attracted the interest of researchers, as they help to control the quality of what is published, identify relevant themes, and, thus enable scientific advances. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the scientific production of the Brazilian Journal of Sports Medicine on the Web of Science database through a bibliometric analysis. The data were analyzed in relation to the publications, the authors, and the RBME. During the period of indexation on the Web of Science, which corresponds to the last decade, the RBME published 896 documents, most of which were original articles (801, 89.3%). The most cited keywords were exercise (117 studies), resistance training (37), and physical activity (34). Brazilian institutions had the highest number of publications, followed by Portugal and Spain, and there were also articles published in the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom. USP and UNESP were the institutions with the greatest number of publications in the RBME over the last decade. Ten different collaboration clusters were identified, with researcher Edilson Serpeloni Cyrino standing out with the largest collaboration network. The ten years of indexation on the Web of Science reveal the consolidation of the RBME on the international scene, which has resulted in increasing views of and citations from the studies published, as well as attracting researchers from institutions of other countries to publish their work. Level of evidence II; Review.

RESUMEN Los análisis sobre la producción científica han despertado el interés de investigadores, pues auxilian en el control de la calidad de aquello que es publicado, identificando temas relevantes y auxiliando así los avances científicos. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del estudio fue analizar la producción científica de la Revista Brasileña de Medicina del Deporte (RMBE) en la Web of Science (WoS) a través de un análisis bibliométrico. Se analizaron los datos relativos a las publicaciones, a los autores y a RMBE. En el período de indexación en la WoS, correspondiente a la última década, la RBME publicó 896 documentos, siendo la mayoría artículos originales (801, 89,3%). Las palabras clave más citadas fueron exercise (117 estudios), resistance training (37) y physical activity (34). Las instituciones de Brasil fueron las que más publicaciones presentaron, seguidas de Portugal y España, con publicaciones también en Estados Unidos, Canadá y Reino Unido, entre otros. La USP y UNESP fueron las instituciones con mayor número de publicaciones en RMBE en la última década. Se identificaron diez grupos de colaboración diferentes, destacándose el investigador "Edilson Serpeloni Cyrino", con la mayor red de colaboración. Los 10 años de indexación de la RBME en la Web of Science revelan la consolidación de la revista en el escenario internacional, repercutiendo en el aumento de visualizaciones y citas de los estudios publicados, además de atraer a investigadores de instituciones de otros países para publicar sus trabajos. Nivel de evidencia II; Revisión.

RESUMO Análises sobre a produção científica têm despertado o interesse de pesquisadores, pois auxiliam no controle da qualidade do que é publicado, identificando temas relevantes, e assim, auxiliando avanços científicos. Diante disso, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar a produção científica da Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte na Web of Science (WoS) por meio de uma análise bibliométrica. Os dados foram analisados com relação às publicações, aos autores e à RBME. No período de indexação na WoS, correspondente a última década, a RBME publicou 896 documentos, sendo a maioria artigos originais (801, 89,3%). Os descritores mais citados foram exercise (117 estudos), resistance training (37) e physical activity (34). Instituições do Brasil foram as que mais apresentaram publicações, seguidas de Portugal e Espanha, tendo ainda publicações nos EUA, Canadá e Reino Unido, entre outros. A USP e a UNESP foram as instituições com maior número de publicações na última década na RBME. Dez diferentes grupos de colaboração foram identificados, destacando-se o pesquisador "Edilson Serpeloni Cyrino", com a maior rede de colaboração. Os 10 anos de indexação da RBME na Web of Science revelam a consolidação do periódico no cenário internacional, repercutindo no aumento de visualizações e citações dos estudos publicados, além de atrair pesquisadores de instituições de outros países para publicarem seus trabalhos. Nível de evidência II; Revisão.

Correction: A Rehabilitation Program for Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/31345.].

A Rehabilitation Program for Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Physical exercise, as a treatment, is beneficial for the improvement of quality of life in patients with LBP, and it is widely accepted. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a protocol for a feasibility study that is designed to compare the effectiveness of different interventions in reducing pain, functional, and psychosocial factors among patients with chronic LBP after 8 weeks of randomization. METHODS: This is a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial that will consist of individuals with chronic LBP who are aged between 18 and 65 years. Participants will be allocated, through block randomization, to one of the following groups: the motor control exercises (MCEs), pain education, MCEs+pain education, and usual care groups. The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and the secondary outcomes will be the pressure pain threshold, which will be measured with a digital algometer; LBP-related disability; fears and beliefs; the fear of movement; quality of life; mood states; and levels of depression and anxiety. The trial was approved by the ethics committee for research involving human beings of the Federal University of Pelotas (reference number: 5.717.390) in September 2022, and it will be conducted until August 2023. RESULTS: The researchers are being trained to apply the questionnaires and carry out the interventions. Patient recruitment will begin at the end of 2022 and results are expected to be achieved by August 2023. CONCLUSIONS: Our trial will provide preliminary data regarding the feasibility and safety of MCEs and pain education for patients with LBP. It will also provide preliminary outcome data that can be used to identify the most efficient intervention and the level of health care that should be implemented in public health services. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials U1111-1221-4106; https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-2xx2r2/. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/31345.

Home Physical Exercise Protocol for Older Adults, Applied Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for Randomized and Controlled Trial.

The emergence of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) at the beginning of 2020, considered a public health emergency due to its high transmission rate and lack of specific treatment, led many countries to adhere to social isolation. Although necessary, social isolation causes important psychological changes, negatively affecting the health of the population, including the older population. The aim of this study is to propose a 4-week, home-based physical exercise protocol for older people in social isolation and evaluate whether will promote positive changes in psychological variables such as anxiety, mood, depression, and stress, and in the variables sleep, quality of life, and physical capacities in the older adults. The sample will be selected in a probabilistic way from individuals aged 60 years or more from the city of Itajaí (Santa Catarina, Brazil). Of these, half will perform a home-based resistance training protocol, with 3 weekly sessions, for 4 consecutive weeks. For group allocation, patients will be randomized with a computer-generated 1:1 allocation to the physical exercise (PE) group or control group. Outcomes will be depressive symptoms, sleep quality, quality of life, stress, mood states, anxiety, and functional capacity, evaluated at baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 15 days of follow-up. This study will offer a home-based exercise protocol for older adults, with load progression and remote monitoring, thus filling a gap in the provision of PE in this population. The results will be able to identify possible improvements not only in physical health, but also in quality of life and mental health. Clinical Trial Registration: The trial registration was carried out in the Brazil Clinical Trials Registry (RBR-5qh6f3v). (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-5qh6f3v).

Resistance training reduces pain in women with fibromyalgia / O treinamento resistido reduz a dor em mulheres com fibromialgia

Resistance training (RT) is an intervention strategy for the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM) that has low cost, easy access, easy application and a positive effect on general health maintenance. Objective:To investigate the effect of four weeks of RT on pain in patients with FM. Method:This is a non-randomized controlled clinical trial with fifty-four women with FM (age: 53.74 ± 8.54 years). Patients were allocated to the intervention group (n= 33) and the control group (n= 21). The intervention consisted of a four-week supervised RT program. For pain assessment, an algometer and a visual analogue scale were used. To assess differences after the intervention, ANOVA two-way was used. Results:Patients in the intervention group had a significant reduction in pain perception and increased pain threshold, but there was no difference when compared to the control group. Conclusions:The practice of RT for four weeks reduces the pain of patients with FM; however, no significant differences were found with the control group. For this reason, the significant results of this study should be considered with caution, reinforcing the need for further studies.

O treinamento resistido (TR) é uma estratégia de intervenção para o tratamento da fibromialgia (FM) que possui baixo custo, fácil acesso, fácil aplicação e efeito positivo na manutenção geral da saúde. Objetivo: Investigar o efeito de quatro semanas de TR na dor de pacientes com FM. Método: Trata-se de um ensaio clínico controlado não randomizado com cinquenta e quatro mulheres com FM (idade: 53,74 ± 8,54 anos). As pacientes foram alocadas no grupo intervenção (n= 33) e no grupo controle (n= 21). A intervenção consistiu em quatro semanas de um programa de TR supervisionado. Para a avaliação da dor foi utilizado um algômetro e a escala visual analógica. Para avaliar as diferenças após a intervenção, foi utilizada a ANOVA de dois fatores. Resultados: Os pacientes do grupo intervenção tiveram redução significativa da percepção da dor e aumento do limiar de dor, mas não houve diferença quando comparados ao grupo controle. Conclusão: A prática do TR por quatro semanas reduz a dor de pacientes com FM, entretanto, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas com o grupo controle. Por esse motivo, os resultados significativos deste estudo devem ser considerados com cautela, reforçando a necessidade de novos estudos.

Relationship between handgrip strength, peripheral muscle strength, and respiratory muscle endurance in women with fibromyalgia: a cross-sectional study / Relação entre força de preensão manual, força muscular periférica e resistência muscular respiratória em mulheres com fibromialgia: um estudo transversal

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease characterized by generalized and chronic musculoskeletal pain. It is common, the presence of other symptoms such as fatigue, depression, sleep disorders, leading patients to adopt a sedentary lifestyle. Objective: Verify the muscular and respiratory strength of women with FM. Method: Is a cross-sectional study that evaluated 41 women with clinical diagnosis of FM. We analyzed handgrip strength (HS), the strength of the lower limbs, and respiratory muscle endurance using the spirometric maneuver. Results: Patients with FM had a significant reduction in HS, both in the dominant and non-dominant upper limb. Furthermore, peripheral muscle strength in the lower limbs was reduced because on average, participants exceeded the normative five-repetition sit-to-stand test times stipulated for the age groups. Approximately two-thirds of the sample had maximal voluntary ventilation values below the lower limit of normality. We detected inverse and moderate correlation between peripheral muscle strength and HS of non-dominant upper limb (r= −0.472; p= 0.002) and inverse and weak correlation with the HS of dominant upper limb (r= −0.374; p= 0.016); weak correlations between respiratory muscle endurance and HS of dominant upper limb (r= 0.299; p= 0.058), HS of non-dominant upper limb (r= −0.317; p= 0.043), and peripheral muscle strength (r= −0.372, p= 0.017); and strong correlation between HS of dominant upper limb and non-dominant upper limb (r= 0.899; p<0.001). Conclusion: Women with FM present with reduced muscle strength in the upper and lower limbs, as well as lower respiratory muscle resistance.

A Fibromialgia (FM) é uma doença caracterizada por dor musculoesquelética generalizada e crônica. É comum a presença de outros sintomas como fadiga, depressão, distúrbios do sono, levando os pacientes a adotarem um estilo de vida sedentário. Objetivo: Verificar a força muscular e respiratória de mulheres com FM. Método: Estudo transversal que avaliou 41 mulheres com FM. Analisamos a força de preensão manual (FPM), a força de membros inferiores e a resistência dos músculos respiratórios por meio da manobra espirométrica. Resultados: Pacientes com FM tiveram redução significativa da FPM, tanto no membro superior dominante quanto não dominante. A força muscular periférica dos membros inferiores foi reduzida porque, em média, os participantes excederam tempos normativos do teste de levantar e sentar estipulados para as faixas etárias. Aproximadamente dois terços da amostra apresentavam valores máximos de ventilação voluntária abaixo do limite inferior da normalidade. Detectamos correlação inversa e moderada entre força muscular periférica e FPM do membro superior não dominante (r= −0,472; p= 0,002) e correlação inversa e fraca com a FPM do membro superior dominante (r= −0,374; p= 0,016); correlações fracas entre resistência muscular respiratória e FPM do membro superior dominante (r= 0,299; p= 0,058), FPM do membro superior não dominante (r= -0,317; p= 0,043) e força muscular periférica (r= -0,372, p= 0,017); e forte correlação entre FPM de membro superior dominante e membro superior não dominante (r= 0,899; p<0,001). Conclusão: Mulheres com FM apresentam redução da força muscular de membros superiores e inferiores, bem como da resistência dos músculos respiratórios inferiores.

Effects of resistance training on the mental health of patients with fibromyalgia: a systematic review.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease characterized by generalized skeletal muscle pain and the presence of mental disorders is common among patients. As there is no cure, several treatment alternatives have been investigated, including the practice of resistance training. Thus, the aim of the current study is to analyze the effects of resistance training on the mental health of patients with fibromyalgia. This is a systematic review of the literature that followed the recommendations of the PRISMA statement. The search for articles occurred in May 2020 in the databases PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, Web of Science, PEDro, and CINAHL, as well as Google Scholar for gray literature. The protocol was recorded in PROSPERO and assessment of quality was performed using the Cochrane tool. In total, 481 studies were found in the database searches, of which seven were included in the analysis. The only variables investigated in studies related to mental health were depression and anxiety. The results demonstrate that resistance training reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with fibromyalgia. It is concluded that resistance training is efficient to improve the mental health of patients with fibromyalgia, reducing depression and anxiety. The main limitation is that few variables related to mental health were analyzed. Key Points • Resistance training improves the mental health of patients with FM. • The most commonly studied variables related to mental health are depression and anxiety. • The study protocols are similar, starting with low-intensity training and gradually increasing the intensity.

Acute effect of strength training on pain in women with fibromyalgia: A brief report.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze the effect of one session and three sessions of strength training (ST) on pain in women with fibromyalgia (FM). METHOD: Twenty-three women with FM performed three sessions of ST for a week. Each training session worked the main muscle groups and lasted 60 min. Three sets of 12 repetitions were performed with 1 min intervals in between. The load was increased based on the perception of subjective effort of each patient. Pain intensity was evaluated immediately after the first and third sessions using a Fischer digital algometer. RESULTS: After the first ST session, pain reduction was observed. No significant differences were found in pain thresholds on the baseline versus the third session. The analysis of MBI demonstrated that the ST does not worsen patients' pain, indicating a 52.2% trivial effect and a 39.1% beneficial effect. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there is no harmful effect on the pain of women with FM after an acute session of ST. We emphasize that despite the promising results, more studies on the subject are needed to help understand pain in patients with FM.

Preferred exercise and mental health of the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Preferred exercise may be beneficial for the mental health of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).This study aimed to investigate the effects of preferred exercise on the quality of life (Qol), depression, and mood states of the patients with FMS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a nonrandomized controlled trial. The patients with FMS were divided into an experimental group (EG; n = 22) and a control group (CG; n = 14). The patients in the EG performed their preferred exercise (resistance, walking, or stretching) for 12 weeks. CG went to a waiting list. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and Brunel Mood Scale were used to evaluate the outcomes. RESULTS: The EG exhibited a decrease in the total impact of FMS on the Qol, depression, tension, and mental confusion (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Preferred exercises reduced the impact of FMS on the Qol, depression, and mental confusion of patients with FMS.

Does physical exercise improve quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia?

BACKGROUND: To compare patients with active and inactive fibromyalgia to better understand the impact of physical inactivity on quality of life and symptoms in these patients. METHODS: A total of 304 patients were eligible for the study, 20 were excluded for reasons of health, work, or unavailability to perform the collection. Data were collected to assess sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, physical exercise, sleep, and quality of life. Patients were classified as active (performed physical exercise) or inactive (did not perform physical exercise). Sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and quality of life was assessed using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 284 final participants, 97.9% were women, with a mean age of 50.39 ± 10.31 years. Most did not exercise regularly and did not work, and most used antidepressant drugs and muscle relaxants. Patients who exercised regularly had a better overall quality of life than those who did not; moreover, inactive patients had a 1.77-fold likelihood of a greater impact on quality of life, and those with poor sleep quality had a 10.79-fold likelihood. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reinforce the understanding that exercise can reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia and suggests that patients who practice physical exercise have a better quality of life, with fewer depressive symptoms and absences from work, and better sense of well-being.

Effects of resistance training on the health-related quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases: Systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of resistance training on the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of patients with rheumatic diseases through a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. METHOD: Until 31 August 2018, systematic searches were carried out in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Clinical trials examining the effects of resistance training on the HR-QoL of patients with rheumatic diseases were collected. The effects were calculated using the standardized mean difference of HR-QoL and the domains of the Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) questionnaire (i.e., physical component, mental component, functional capacity, limitations due to physical aspects, limitations due to emotional aspects, social aspects, mental health, general health, pain and vitality). RESULTS: A total of 32 studies were included. The studies analyzed the general HR-QoL by using several instruments, with many of them using SF-36. The meta-analysis included 29 studies, and the results indicated that resistance training improves the general HR-QoL (p < 0.01, d = -0.50, 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.30), the physical role functioning (p < 0.01, d = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.61), physical functioning, social aspects, and body pain (p = 0.03, d = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.09 to 01.34; p = 0.04, d = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.53; and p = 0.01, d = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.55, respectively) compared with control group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that resistance training effectively improves the HR-QoL of patients with rheumatic diseases, including physical role functioning, physical functioning, social aspects, and body pain. Further studies are needed on some of the rheumatic diseases, particularly chronic fatigue and lupus.

The relationship between sleep quality and fibromyalgia symptoms.

This study investigated the relationship between sleep quality and fibromyalgia symptoms in 326 patients. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess the presence of sleep disorders. Multivariate analysis of variance was performed to determine the influence of fibromyalgia symptoms on sleep quality. The prevalence of sleep disorders was 92.9 percent. Patients reported generalized pain (88.3%), memory failure (78.5%), moodiness (59%), excessive anxiety (77.5%), and concentration difficulties (69.1%). Patients with more symptoms reported poor sleep quality (p < .05; d = .74), and the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score correlated with the number of symptoms (p < .01). Sleep quality has an important association with fibromyalgia symptoms.

Effect of yoga on the quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

AIM: To analyze the effects of yoga on the quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases through a systematic review with meta-analysis. METHODS: This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted following the recommendations of the Declaration of PRISMA. The searches were carried out on the databases PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, and Cochrane until August 2018. Experimental studies evaluating the effect of yoga on the quality of life in patients with rheumatic diseases were included. RESULTS: After data searches, 483 studies were found, 23 of which were included in our analysis. We found that yoga improves the overall quality of life (d= -0.64; 95% CI: -0.91 to 0.038) of patients with rheumatic diseases, as well as the following domains: functional capacity (d = 16.43; 95% CI: 13.37-19.49), physical aspects (d = 27.11; 95% CI: 19.40-34.83), emotional aspects (d = 26.00; 95% CI: 18.87-33.13), general health (d = 16.61; 95% CI: 12.66-20.55), and social aspects (d = 7.01 ; 95% CI: 5.57-9.45). CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests weak recommendations can be made for the use of yoga in the management of RD patients.