Independent and joint associations of physical activity and fitness with fibromyalgia symptoms and severity: The al-Ándalus project |
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| Authors: | Víctor Segura-Jiménez Alberto Soriano-Maldonado Fernando Estévez-López Inmaculada C Álvarez-Gallardo Manuel Delgado-Fernández Jonatan R Ruiz |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain;2. Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain;3. Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain;4. Department of Education, Faculty of Education Science, University of Almería, Almería, Spain;5. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;6. PROFITH “PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity” Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Granada, Granada, Spain |
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| Abstract: | We examined independent and joint associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) with pain, fatigue and the overall impact of fibromyalgia in 386 fibromyalgia women aged 51.2 ± 7.6 years. Levels of PA (light, moderate and vigorous) and PF were measured with triaxial accelerometry and the Senior Fitness Test, respectively. We used the Short-Form health survey-36 pain sub-scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory to assess pain and multiple dimensions of fatigue, respectively. The impact of fibromyalgia was studied with the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Both, total PA and global PF were independently associated with pain pressure threshold, SF-36 pain, reduced activity, reduced motivation and FIQR total score (all, P ≤ 0.027). The associations between total PA and symptoms were weaker than those observed between global PF and symptoms. Overall, unfit patients with low PA showed a worse profile that fit patients with high PA (all, P ≤ 0.001). In summary, PA and PF are independently associated with pain, fatigue and the overall impact of fibromyalgia in women. Although PF presented greater associations with symptoms, the results suggest that both being physically active and keep adequate fitness levels might be convenient for fibromyalgia women. |
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| Keywords: | GT3X+ counts per minute physical function cardiorespiratory fitness muscle strength flexibility |
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