Journalartikel

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 2007

Seiten: 27-33

Zeitschrift: Aktuelle Rheumatologie

Bandnummer: 32

Heftnummer: 1

ISSN: 0341-051X

eISSN: 1438-9940

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-962879

Verlag: Georg Thieme Verlag

Abstract: 

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a non-inflammatory rheumatic disease of unkown aetiology with chronic pain and multiple psychovegetative symptoms. From the patient's perspective, the two key issues are severe pain and associated fatigue/lack of physical fitness, which profoundly affect the quality of life. Thus far, there is no causal therapy, and therefore, symptomatic interventions are most commonly used. In a multimodal therapeutic concept, physiotherapeutic interventions are of high importance and have been used with considerable success.

Objective: The aim of the current prospective study was to evaluate two different strategies of physical interval training, "circuit training" and ergometry training, with respect to pain, physical fitness and quality of life in patients with FM.

Patients and Methods: Twenty-two patients with FM (21 females and 1 male, age 44-70 years) were randomised into two groups: group 1 started with ergometry, and continued with circuit training after a 2-months "wash-out" period. In group 2, the interventions were performed in opposite sequence. Each patient received 10 ergometry and 10 circuit training interventions over a course of 5 weeks each. Check points were baseline, immediately after completing each series of 10 interventions (nl), and one month after the last intervention (follow-up; fu). The state of health was quantified at each checkpoint using standardised scales and questionnaires.

Results: Pain was evaluated by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the pressure pain threshold (kp/cm(2)) of the 18 tender points. Physical fitness was assessed by the Borg scale (subjective physical stress) and the Ruffier test (aerobic endurance). Quality of life was measured using the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) and the SF-36 questionnaire. Circuit training resulted in a significant reduction of pain intensity (baselinevs. nl, p < 0.05) and the number of tender points (baseline vs. nl and fu, p < 0.05). Regarding aerobic endurance, disease-specific impact on health (FIQ), and general health (SF-36), a non-significant trend towards amelioration was observed. Ergometry resulted in a significant improvement of aerobic endurance and the mental component score (MCS) of the SF-36. Regarding pain intensity and the physical component score (PCS) of the SF-36, a non-significant trend towards improvement was observed. In contrast, ergometry had no effect on the number of tender points and the disease-specific impact on health (FIQ).

Conclusion: Both circuit training and ergometry can achieve considerable therapeutic effects in patients with FM, in particular, significant improvements of the two key issues global pain intensity (circuit training) and aerobic endurance (ergometry). While circuit training seems to be more accepted by the patients, possibly due to group dynamic effects, we recommend a combination of both strategies because of their complementary benefits.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Uhlemann, C., Strobel, I., Mueller-Ladner, U. and Lange, U. (2007) Prospective clinical trial about physical activity in fibromyalgia, Aktuelle Rheumatologie, 32(1), pp. 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-962879

APA-Zitierstil: Uhlemann, C., Strobel, I., Mueller-Ladner, U., & Lange, U. (2007). Prospective clinical trial about physical activity in fibromyalgia. Aktuelle Rheumatologie. 32(1), 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-962879