An observer-blinded comparison of supervised and unsupervised aerobic exercise regimens in fibromyalgia

Objective. To compare a supervised 12-week aerobic exercise class with unsupervised home aerobic exercises in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Methods. This was a 48-week randomized single (observer) blind study in a teaching hospital rheumatology and physiotherapy department. The subjects were 74 patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia. Results and conclusions. A 12-week exercise class programme with home exercises demonstrated no benefit over a single physiotherapy session with home exercises in the treatment of pain in patients with fibromyalgia. Neither group (nor the groups combined) showed an improvement in pain compared with baseline. There was some significant benefit in psychological well-being in the exercise class group and perhaps a slowing of functional deterioration in this group.