Fibromyalgia is a common condition associated with muscular pain and fatigue affecting about 2% of people in the United States. Fibromyalgia is not a form of arthritis, but could be better described as a soft tissue rheumatism that causes pain and stiffness around joints and in bone and muscles.
A diagnosis of Fibromyalgia is not made with laboratory tests, but with a detailed examination of the patient and their history. Most people experience fatigue and sleep disturbances, creating symptoms much like the exhaustion felt with the flu.
Currently, it is standard treatment to use light exercise or physical therapy, along with medication and psychological therapy, as part of a comprehensive plan for treating fibromyalgia. About 90% of people with fibromyalgia are women.
Researchers from Finland have demonstrated that patients with fibromyalgia can boost their strength and improve certain parameters of their health with weight-bearing exercise. In a recent study, researchers divided 21 women with fibromyalgia into two groups. Eleven women went through the strength training program and 10 received no special care. An additional 12 healthy women went through the weight training program as "control" subjects. The women completed a 21-week strength training program which led to a reduction in both their levels of depression and fatigue, but which was not effective in reducing the levels of pain.
While no studies have found that exercise improves pain, exercise has been shown to help patients function better, improve mood, and reduce fatigue. (Annals of Rheumatic Disease 2001; 60: 21-26)
For more information on diagnosis and treatment of Fibromyalgia, visit the
Arthritis Foundation and
Fibromyalgia-Symptoms.org.