Effectiveness of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training in patients with fibromyalgia: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Verbatim from Semantic Scholar. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) combined with strengthening and stretching exercises in patients with fibromyalgia. DESIGN Interventional, single-blinded, randomized-controlled trial. SETTING Outpatient rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS Sixty women diagnosed with fibromyalgia were randomized to HIIT, MICT and Control groups. INTERVENTIONS HIIT included a 5-min warm-up at 50% of peak-HR, four cycles of 4-min at 80-95% of peak-HR followed by 3-min recovery intervals at 70% of peak-HR. MICT consisted of 45-min at 65-70% of peak-HR. Each aerobic training session was followed by standardized strengthening and stretching exercises. The programs performed using cycle-ergometers 5-sessions per-week for 6-weeks. The control group did not participate in any supervised exercise sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). The secondary outcome measures were visual analogic scale for pain, Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36), cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and body composition parameters. RESULTS Fifty-five participants completed the study. There was no significant difference in FIQ between HIIT vs MICT (1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) -9.67 to 11.75) after treatment. Group-time interactions were significant for the FIQ between interventions and control (HIIT vs Control -16.20; 95% CI -27.23 to -5.13 and MICT vs Control -17.24; 95% CI -28.27 to -6.22) (all P<0.001). There were significant group-time interactions for the pain, SF-36 and CPET parameters between treatments and control (all P<0.05). Body-weight, fat-percentage, fat-mass and body mass index improved significantly (all P<0.05) only in MICT group after treatment. CONCLUSIONS The HIIT plus strengthening and stretching exercises and MICT plus strengthening and stretching exercises interventions showed significant improvements for the impact of fibromyalgia, pain degree, functional capacity and quality of life compared to the control group. HIIT was not superior to MICT. Furthermore, body composition parameters were improved significantly only for the MICT.

Authors

• T. Atan
• Y. Karavelioglu

Keywords

• Medicine