Investigation of physical fitness, resting metabolic rate, daily physical activity, pulmonary functions, body composition and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia

Investigation of Physical Fitness, Resting Metabolic Rate, Daily Physical Activity, Pulmonary Functions, Body Composition and Quality of Life in Patients with Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is one of the common disorders that predominantly affects women, and includes somatic and emotional symptoms. In this study, investigation of physical fitness parameters (maximal aerobic capacity, muscle strength, flexibility), daily physical activity, resting metabolic rate, pulmonary functions, body composition, health related quality of life, depression and anxiety changes as well as the associations among these parameters was aimed in patients with fibromyalgia versus healthy controls. Fibromyalgia was diagnosed according to the ACR (American College of Rheumatology) 1990 criteria. A total of thirty-nine female patients with fibromyalgia and fourty healthy female controls were included in this study. Maximal aerobic capacity was determined by Astrand submaximal exercise protocol. Handgrip strength and back-leg strength were measured with dynamometers; spinal flexibility was measured with flexion meter; daily physical activity was measured with metabolic holter; resting metabolic rate determined with indirect calorimeter; pulmonary function tests were measured with portable spirometer. Body composition was determined by using bioelectric impedance analysis system. Skinfold thickness was measured by skinfold caliper, and body circumference measurements were carried out by tape measure. Quality of life questionnaires (SF36), Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied to all participants. Statistical analyses were done using t-test, chi-square and Pearson correlation tests of SPSS 18.0 computer program. The mean maximal aerobic capacity, spine flexibility, daily step number, daily total energy expenditure, resting metabolic rate, daily vigorous activity time, pulmonary function tests, body mass index, body fat percentage, and lean body mass values did not differ significantly between the patients with fibromyalgia and the healthy controls. Daily moderate activity time value, daily active energy expenditure value, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores were higher in patients with fibromyalgia than the ones in healthy controls, whereas handgrip strength and back-leg strength values, and all SF36 scores was lower in fibromyalgia group compared to the control group. Handgrip strength and back-leg strength values showed moderately positive correlations with SF36 scores (total, physical health, mental health), and moderately negative correlations with Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores in patients with fibromyalgia. In conclusion, it was found that performances of daily physical activity were good, daily energy expenditures were not different, but muscle strength, quality of life, depression and anxiety symtomatology were impaired in patients with fibromyalgia compared to healthy controls. We suggest that the exercise therapy which includes mainly the strengthening exercises might be more beneficial to increase wellbeing and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Key words: Fibromyalgia daily physical activity, resting metabolic rate, physical fitness, aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, body fat, quality of life.