Cardiovascular autonomic modulation after acute resistance exercise in women with fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that autonomic modulation after resistance exercise (RE) would be reduced in women with fibromyalgia (FM) compared with controls.


METHODS
Before-after trial.


METHODS
Testing occurred in a university setting.


METHODS
Women with FM (n=9) and healthy controls (n=9) underwent testing before (pre) and 20 minutes after (post) RE.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Normalized low-frequency (LFnu) and normalized high-frequency (HFnu) oscillations and the LFnu/HFnu ratio were indicative of sympathetic modulation, parasympathetic modulation, and sympathovagal balance, respectively. Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) was also measured.


RESULTS
Variables were similar in both groups at rest. HFnu decreased in controls (pre, 55.0+/-4.2%; post, 35.0+/-4.7%; P<.05) and increased in women with FM (pre, 57.0+/-5.7%; post, 63.2+/-4.6%; P<.05). LFnu increased in controls (pre, 43.3+/-4.4%; post, 63.2+/-4.8%; P<.05) and decreased in women with FM (pre, 41.8+/-5.6%; post, 35.6+/-4.7%; P<.05). The LFnu/HFnu ratio increased in controls (pre, 0.89+/-0.17; post, 2.43+/-0.64; P<.05) with no change in women with FM (pre, 0.90+/-0.22; post, 0.64+/-0.13; P=.13). BRS decreased in controls (pre, 8.78+/-1.42 ms/mmHg; post, 5.49+/-0.66 ms/mmHg; P<.05), but not in women with FM (pre, 5.91+/-1.22 ms/mmHg; post, 9.23+/-2.4 ms/mmHg; P=.16).


CONCLUSIONS
After acute RE, women with FM responded differently from controls, demonstrated by lower sympathetic and higher vagal modulation without altering BRS. These postexercise responses may be attributed to the altered autonomic responsiveness to physiologic stress that characterizes FM.
Kingsley
J Derek
JD
Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. allaboutfitness@juno.com
Panton
Lynn B
LB
McMillan
Victor
V
Figueroa
Arturo
A
D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D055070:Resistance Training; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology