Effects of calisthenic exercises on pain, cardiorespiratory endurance, physical functioning, quality of life, depression and anxiety in women with fibromyalgia syndrome

ABSTRACTFibromyalgia syndrome causes chronic pain and effects negative allaspects of patients life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectivenessof calisthenic exercises on pain, cardiorespiratory endurance, physicalfunctioning, quality of life, depression and anxiety in women with fibromyalgiasyndrome. Our study has been carried out in Başkent University MedicalSchool, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics,on 27 subjects with fibromyalgia syndrome. Subjects were evaluated before andafter the therapy program. The evaluations consisted of pain, tender point scoreand tenderness, health status and physical functioning, cardiorespiratoryendurance, quality of life, depression, anxiety, flexibility, grip strength and rangeof motion of spine. In addition the first therapy group were evaluated withcalisthenic test. Subjects were divided into two groups. All subjects were treatedby heating modality, Transcuteneal electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasoundtherapy for 15 session. First group was given calisthenic exercises for threetimes per week for 8 weeks by a physiotherapist, stretching and strengtheningexercises for upper extremity and body, posture exercises and patienteducation. Second group was given home exercise program which includesstretching and strengthening exercises for upper extremity and body, postureexercises, patient education and walking for three times per week for 8 weeks.Pain, tender point score and tenderness, health status and physical functioning,quality of life, depression, flexibility and grip strength showed significantimprovement in each group after the therapy program (p<0.05). There were nosignificant changes in cardiorespiratory exercise test parameters and anxietylevels between groups (p>0.05). In the calisthenic test, there were significantdifferences in repetitions of exercises, percived exertion levels, resting heartrate and resting sistolic blood pressurre at rest and after exercise (p<0.05). Inconclusion there were positive improvements in all groups.Key words: Fibromyalgia syndrome, exercise testing, maximal oxygen uptake,aerobic exerciseVI