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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Jun;43(6):1106-13.
doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182061b49.

Influence of preferred versus prescribed exercise on pain in fibromyalgia

Lauren W Newcomb  1 , Kelli F Koltyn, William P Morgan, Dane B Cook
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Influence of preferred versus prescribed exercise on pain in fibromyalgia

Lauren W Newcomb et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a preferred- versus a prescribed-intensity exercise session on pain in women with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: Twenty-one women with FM (mean age = 44 yr) completed two randomly assigned exercise sessions consisting of 20 min of cycle ergometry at a self-selected intensity and a prescribed intensity. Experimental pain perception was assessed before and after aerobic exercise. During exercise, HR, watts, RPE, and muscle pain were assessed every 5 min. Clinical pain was assessed with the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) immediately and 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after exercise. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results: Women with FM preferred a lower intensity of exercise than what was prescribed as indicated by significantly lower HR, watts, and RPE responses (P < 0.05). Muscle pain in the legs, however, was similar in the two conditions and significantly increased during exercise (P < 0.05). Pain thresholds and pain tolerances increased significantly after exercise, whereas peak pain ratings decreased after exercise (P < 0.05). Furthermore, pain (SF-MPQ) in the follow-up period was found to be lower than baseline (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: It is concluded that the women with FM who participated in this study experienced significant improvements in pain after exercise. The results from this study are novel and indicate that recommendations for exercise prescription for individuals with FM should consider the preferred-intensity exercise model as a strategy to reduce pain.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Individual responses for watts, HR, and RPE during the prescribed and preferred exercise conditions. Data plotted on the graph and in the table below each graph represent mean values for the 20-min exercise session. Seventeen of the 21 participants chose a lower wattage for their preferred session compared with the prescribed session. Participants 18 through 21 represent the four individuals who chose a higher wattage for their preferred session compared with the prescribed session. They are denoted on the watts graph (top) by black-filled data points.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Means and SE for pain thresholds before and after exercise.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Means and SE for peak pain intensity ratings before and after exercise.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Means and SE for the MPQ total in the postexercise period.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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