About 90% of fibromyagia sufferers are women. Published in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease (2001; 60: 21-26) was a small study, involving 21 women. Eleven went through a strength training program, 10 received no special care. After a 21-week strength training program, women with fibromyalgiaexperienced a reduction in their levels of depression and fatigue. Their pain levels, however, did not change. In Anotherstudy, published in the British Medical Journal (Volume 325, Number 7357, Issue of 27 Jul 2002), point-tenderness did improve with exercise.
The British study, involving 130 firbormyalgia patients, had the subjects performing either progressive aerobic exercise (on a treadmill or stationary bike), or relaxation and stretching. Researchers found that subjects performing exercise were twice as likely to rate themselves as much better or very much better, as compared to those who did flexibility training and relaxation techniques. The benefits of the exercise were sustained when patients were checked at a one-year follow up. Patients in the exercise group also showed larger reductions in terms of the number of tender points. Tender points, or “trigger points,” are locations on patients that produce a sharp pain if pushed on during an examination.