Fibromyalgia and Responses to Exercise

Abstract

The author examines whether exercise may challenge pathogenic mechanisms in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Recent studies have shown normal oxygen consumption and no abnormal accumulation of metabolites during exercise. Thus, an early on-set of hypoxia during exercise is not found. Furthermore, little evidence supports the hypothesis that exercise may cause muscle injury. However, a hyporesponsiveness of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis during exercise might be present. Nevertheless, regular low-intensity exercise does not increase the symptoms in FM. Thus, patients with FM should be stimulated to stay physically active in order to avoid deconditioning and improve general health status.