Exercise therapy for fibromyalgia

Rated exercise works better than relaxation in lessening the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Researchers at Pole Hospital, England, worked with a group of 120 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a painful muscular condition whose causes are not well understood. Half of the patients were initiated to routine sessions of graded aerobic exercise, supervised by a personal trainer.

After three months, more of those in the exercise group rated themselves as very much improved, compared to those in the relaxation group. The advantages were maintained at one year after the start of the study. Researchers felt that such exercise programmes might be very useful for those with fibromyalgia, say the researchers, for they are cheap, don't need specialist staff or equipment, and they are effective. The only problem is encouraging people to keep up the exercise, for drop-out rates are quite high.