Clinical Study

Medium-/Long-Term Effects of a Specific Exercise Protocol Combined with Patient Education on Spine Mobility, Chronic Fatigue, Pain, Aerobic Fitness and Level of Disability in Fibromyalgia

Table 1

Rehabilitation programme.

Sessions 1–7Sessions 8–14Sessions 15–20

Patient’s education (self-awareness) (10 min)Patient’s education (10 min)Patient’s education (10 min)

Information about exercises: illustrated description by the physiotherapist about exercises to be learned and performed at home Verifying the correct execution of exercises learned, presence of pain during or after the home exercises, and overall exercise tolerance.Verifying the correct execution of exercises learned, presence of pain during or after the home exercises, and overall exercise tolerance.

Warm-up (15 min)Warm-up (10 min)Warm-up (10 min)

(1) Pulmonary exercises, cardiorespiratory fitness:(1) Pulmonary exercises, cardiorespiratory fitness:(1) Pulmonary exercises, cardiorespiratory fitness:
(a) inspiration through the nose and expiration through the mouth, (b) normal expiration through the nose and normal expiration through the mouth, (c) respiration through the chest and abdomen, and (d) deep breathing and then expiration through the mouth slowly deep breathing.(a) inspiration through the nose and expiration through the mouth, (b) normal expiration through the nose and normal expiration through the mouth, (c) respiration through the chest and abdomen, and (d) deep breathing and then expiration through the mouth slowly deep breathing.(a) inspiration through the nose and expiration through the mouth, (b) normal expiration through the nose and normal expiration through the mouth, (c) respiration through the chest and abdomen, and (d) deep breathing and then expiration through the mouth slowly deep breathing.
(2) Chest and shoulders stretching exercises(2) Chest and shoulders stretching exercises(2) Chest and shoulders stretching exercises
(2 series of 10 repetitions).(2 series of 10 repetitions).(2 series of 10 repetitions).
(3) Spine and upper and lower limbs stretching exercises(3) Spine and upper and lower limbs stretching exercises (3) Spine and upper and lower limbs stretching exercises
(2 series of 10 repetitions)(2 series of 10 repetitions)(2 series of 10 repetitions)

Main period (25 min)Main period (30 min)Main period (30 min)

(1) Exercises to mobilize the back and limbs—crucial for maintaining joint range of movement (2 series of 10 repetitions):(1) Exercises to mobilize the back and limbs—crucial for maintaining joint range of movement (2 series of 10 repetitions):(1) Exercises to mobilize the back and limbs—crucial for maintaining joint range of movement (2 series of 10 repetitions):
Cervical area and thoracolumbar area: lateral flexion and rotation, flexion-extension.
Shoulder and upper limbs: ab/adduction, flexion, elevation, and circumduction.
Coxofemoral, knee, and ankle:
add/abduction, rotation, and flexo-extension.
Cervical side and thoraco-lumbar area: lateral flexion and rotation, flexion-extension.
Shoulder and upper limbs: ab/adduction, flexion, elevation, and circumduction.
Coxofemoral, knee, and ankle:
add/abduction, rotation, and flexo-extension.
Cervical side and thoraco-lumbar area: lateral flexion and rotation, flexion-extension.
Shoulder and upper limbs: ab/adduction, flexion, elevation, and circumduction.
Coxofemoral, knee, and ankle:
add/abduction, rotation, and flexo-extension.
(2) Stretching exercises for the anterior and posterior pelvic girdle muscle chain and muscles of the lower limbs.(2) Stretching exercises for the anterior and posterior pelvic girdle muscle chain and muscles of the lower limbs.
Muscle strengthening for spine and lower limbs
(2) Stretching exercises for the anterior and posterior pelvic girdle muscle chain and muscles of the lower limbs.
Muscle strengthening for spine and lower limbs
(2 repetitions for 50/60 seconds)(2 repetitions for 50/60 seconds)(2 repetitions for 50/60 seconds)
Aerobic exercises (exercise bike): 10 min at 70% of max fc

Cooling down (10 min)Cooling down (10 min)Cooling down (10 min)

Respiratory exercises; spine and limb stretching exercisesRespiratory exercises; spine and limb stretching exercisesRespiratory exercises; spine and limb stretching exercises