Short Bursts of Activity Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: March 30, 2010
A new study suggests that short bursts of physical activity can ease fibromyalgia symptoms. Researchers encouraged patients to take part in moderate-intensity physical activity based around everyday life such as taking the stairs instead of using an elevator, gardening and walking.
Participants were told to perform activity intense enough to cause heavy breathing, but not so heavily that they could not hold a conversation. Researchers investigated the effects of 30 minutes of this type of activity , five to seven days a week, on physical function, pain and other measures of disability in 84 fibromyalgia patients.
At the end of the study, the participants increased their average daily steps by 54%. They also reported significantly fewer problems functioning and less pain.
Results of the study are in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
.
Participants were told to perform activity intense enough to cause heavy breathing, but not so heavily that they could not hold a conversation. Researchers investigated the effects of 30 minutes of this type of activity , five to seven days a week, on physical function, pain and other measures of disability in 84 fibromyalgia patients.
At the end of the study, the participants increased their average daily steps by 54%. They also reported significantly fewer problems functioning and less pain.
Results of the study are in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
.
