Strength training and Fibromyalgia... is there any connection?

The Effects of a 12-Week Strength-Training Program on
Strength and Functionality in Women With Fibromyalgia

ABSTRACT. Kingsley JD, Panton LB, Toole T,
Sirithienthad P, Mathis R, McMillan V. The effects of a 12-
week strength-training program on strength and functionality in
women with fibromyalgia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:
1713-21.

Objective: To determine whether women with fibromyalgia
benefit from strength training.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Testing was completed at the university and training
was completed at a local community wellness facility.
Participants: Twenty-nine women (age range, 18–54y)
with fibromyalgia participated. Subjects were randomly assigned
to a control (n=14; wait-listed for exercise) or strength
(n=15) group. After the first 4 weeks, 7 (47%) women dropped
from the strength group.

Intervention: Subjects underwent 12 weeks of training on
11 exercises, 2 times a week, performing 1 set of 8 to 12
repetitions at 40% to 60% of their maximal lifts and were
progressed to 60% to 80%.
Main Outcome Measures: Subjects were measured for
strength, functionality, tender point sensitivity, and fibromyalgia
impact.

Results: The strength group significantly (P.05) improved
upper- (strength, 39+/-11 to 42+/-12kg; control, 38+/-13 to
38+/-12kg) and lower- (strength, 68+/-28 to 8+/-25kg; control,
61+/-25 to 61+/-26kg) body strength. Upper-body functionality
measured by the Continuous-Scale Physical Functional Performance
test improved significantly (strength, 44+/-11 to
50+/-16U; control, 51+/-11 to 49+/-13U) after training. Tender
point sensitivity and fibromyalgia impact did not change.

Conclusions: Strength training improved strength and some
functionality in women with fibromyalgia. Interventions with
resistance have important implications on independence and
quality of life issues for women with fibromyalgia.

Key Words: Activities of daily living; Body composition;
Fibromyalgia; Rehabilitation.

© 2005 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation