EFFECTS OF AEROBIC EXERCISE VERSUS STRESS MANAGEMENT TREATMENT IN FIBROMYALGIA

To determine and compare short- and long-term effects of aerobic exerc ise (AE), stress management treatment (SMT), and treatment-as-usual (T AU) in fibromyalgia, 60 patients were randomized to 14 weeks of treatm ent by either AE, SMT or TAU. Outcome measures at baseline, midway thr ough treatment, at treatment completion, and at 4 year follow up inclu ded a patient made drawing of pain distribution, dolorimetry of tender points, ergometer cycle test, global subjective improvement, and VAS registrations of: pain, disturbed sleep, lack of energy, and depressio n. Both AE and SMT showed positive short-term effects. AE was the over all most effective treatment, despite being subject to the most scepti cal patient attitude prior to the study. At follow up, there were no o bvious group differences in symptom severity, which for AE seemed to b e due to a considerable compliance problem.