Exercise helpful for children with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Exercise can be helpful for children with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (Fibro) according to a team of researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. [1]

The researchers carried out a pilot trial to determine the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of a 12-week exercise intervention in children with Fibro and to explore the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on physical fitness, function, pain, Fibro symptoms, and quality of life (QOL).

Thirty Fibro patients, aged 8 to 18 years, participated in the trial and were randomized to a 12-week exercise intervention with 3 times a week training sessions of either aerobics or qigong. Program adherence and safety were monitored at each session and data were collected at 3 testing sessions, 2 prior to and 1 after the intervention. The data collected included Fibro symptoms, function, pain, QOL, and fitness measures.

Twenty-four patients completed the program; 4 patients dropped out prior to training and 2 dropped out of the aerobics program. Slightly better adherence to the exercise program was reported in the aerobics group than in the qigong group (67% versus 61%).

The pilot trial found that significant improvements in physical function, functional capacity, QOL, and fatigue were observed in the aerobics group. Anaerobic function, tender point count, pain, and symptom severity improved similarly in both groups.

The researchers concluded that:

It is feasible to conduct an exercise intervention trial in children with [Fibromyalgia Syndrome]. Children with [Fibromyalgia Syndrome] tolerate moderate-intensity exercise without exacerbation of their disease. Significant improvements in physical function, [Fibromyalgia Syndrome] symptoms, QOL, and pain were demonstrated in both exercise groups; the aerobics group performed better in several measures compared with the qigong group. Future studies may need larger sample sizes to confirm clinical improvement and to detect differences in fitness in childhood [Fibromyalgia Syndrome].

References:

1. Stephens S, Feldman BM, Bradley N, Schneiderman J, Wright V, Singh-Grewal D, Lefebvre A, Benseler SM, Cameron B, Laxer R, O'brien C, Schneider R, Silverman E, Spiegel L, Stinson J, Tyrrell PN, Whitney K, Tse SM. Feasibility and effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program in children with fibromyalgia: Results of a randomized controlled pilot trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Sep 29;59(10):1399-1406. [Epub ahead of print]