The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 6 week traditional exercise program with supplementary whole-body vibration (WBV) in improving health status, physical functioning, and main symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) in women with FM.
For this study, 36 women with Fibromyalgia were randomized into 3 treatment groups: exercise and vibration, exercise, and control. Exercise therapy, consisting of aerobic activities, stretching, and relaxation techniques, was performed twice a week (90 min/day). Following each exercise session, the Exercise and vibration group underwent a protocol with WBV, whereas the Exercise group performed the same protocol without vibratory stimulus. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was administered at the beginning and 6 weeks following the initiation of the treatments. Estimates of pain, fatigue, stiffness, and depression were also reported using the visual analogue scale.
A significant improvement was found for pain and fatigue but not for FIQ, stiffness, or depression. Pain and fatigue scores were significantly improved in the Exercise with Vibration group, but not in the Exercise or Control Group. In addition, the Exercise with vibration group showed significantly lower pain and fatigue scores at week 6 compared to the Control group. No significant differences were found between the Exercise and Control groups.
The results of this study suggest that a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary WBV safely reduces pain and fatigue, whereas exercise alone fails to induce improvements. Therefore Whole Body Vibration should be considered as a viable exercise therapy for women with Fibromyalgia.
