Pilates Exercises In Individuals With Fibromyalgia

This study investigated the effects of reformer pilates exercises in Fibromyalgia, which is a chronic musculoskeletal disease characterized by widespread pain in the body, on number of painful regions, disease activity, lower extremity muscle strength, functional mobility, balance, kinesophobia, fatigue, sleep quality, biopsychosocial status and quality of life and compared effects of clinical pilates-based home pilates which is performed on a mat.

In this study, effects of reformer pilates were evaluated by comparing with home mat pilates method. A total of 28 volunteer women who were diagnosed with FM according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2016 criteria were included in the study. Reformer pilates group had 14 participants, home mat pilates group had 14 participants.

All individuals were evaluated by same physiotherapist according to standardized test protocols and in the same conditions at baseline and at the end of 6th week. Number of painful regions with Pain Location Inventory (PLI), disease activity with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), lower extremity muscle strength with Chair Test, functional mobility with The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), balance with Single Leg Stance Test, kinesiophobia with Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, fatigue with Fatigue Severity Scale, sleep quality with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), biopsychosocial status with Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach- Biopsychosocial Questionnaire (BETY-BQ) and quality of life with Short Form-36 (SF-36) were evaluated.

Pilates exercises were performed by a certified and experienced physiotherapist in this field as two different methods (reformer group and home mat group) in 2 times a week for 6 weeks. Before starting treatment program, 5 key elements of clinical pilates exercises, which are breathing, focus, and placement of the rib cage, shoulder, head and neck, were taught to all patients. Participants were encouraged to focus and maintain these 5 key elements during all exercises.

Data were assessed using SPSS (Version 21.0). Continuous variables were stated as average, standard deviation and percentage. When parametric test assumptions were provided the Independent Samples Test was used, when parametric test assumptions were not provided Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the independent groups. When parametric test assumptions were provided, the Paired Simple T Test was used, when parametric test assumptions were not provided, Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the differences between the dependent groups. P value \<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* having FM diagnosis according to ACR 2016 criteria
* aged 18-65
* being stable in drug use for at least 3 months or more
* being volunteer to participate in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

* doing exercise regularly for the last 3 months
* having orthopaedic and cardiopulmonary diseases which would prevent patients of doing exercise
* neurological disorders
* unstable endocrine system diseases
* malignancy, pregnancy
* severe psychological diseases
* having undergone any surgery in the last 6 months
* having communication problems.