A recent study by Torres Vilarino and team examined the effects of low and high intensity resistance training (RT) on the mood states of fibromyalgia patients (FM) and found no significant improvement. The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Reumatismo.
A total of 69 women participated in the study, including 31 healthy women serving as a control group and 28 women diagnosed with FM who were randomly assigned to either a low intensity or high intensity RT group. Additionally, 10 women with FM formed a group of preferred intensity. The exercise protocol for the low and high intensity RT groups consisted of large muscle group exercises performed twice a week for eight weeks, with a specific number of repetitions and rest periods based on intensity. The mood states of the participants were assessed using the Brunel mood scale.
The results of the study showed that FM patients had a worse mood profile compared to healthy women. However, low and high intensity RT for eight weeks did not lead to significant improvements in the mood profile of FM patients. There were some differences in mood states between the low and high intensity RT groups and the control group, with the high intensity RT group showing significant differences in vigor and fatigue at baseline and at the four week evaluation, and the low intensity RT group showing a significant difference in anger at the follow-up period.
Overall, the study suggests that eight weeks of low and high intensity RT may not lead to significant improvements in the mood states of FM patients. Further research is needed to determine the potential benefits of exercise for mood in this population.
Source:
Torres Vilarino, G., Reis Coimbra, D., Guimarães Bevilacqua, G., Diotaiuti, P., Falese, L., & Andrade, A. (2022). Can different degrees of resistance training improve mood states in patients with fibromyalgia? A randomized controlled trial. In Reumatismo (Vol. 74, Issue 3). PAGEPress Publications. https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2022.1452