The effects of 12 weeks of resistance exercise training on disease severity and autonomic modulation at rest and after acute leg resistance exercise in women with fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of 12 weeks of resistance exercise training (RET) on disease severity and autonomic modulation at rest and after acute leg resistance exercise in women with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy controls (HCs).


METHODS
Before-after trial.


METHODS
Testing and training occurred in a university setting.


METHODS
Women with FM (n=9; mean age ± SD, 42±5y) and HCs (n=15; mean age, 45±5y).


METHODS
Both groups underwent testing before and after 12 weeks of whole-body RET consisting of 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions on 5 different exercises.


METHODS
Disease severity was assessed using the number of active tender points, myalgic score, and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Heart rate and autonomic modulation using power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) were measured at rest and 20 minutes after 5 sets of leg-press exercise.


RESULTS
There was no group-by-time interaction for any variable. Women with FM and HCs had similar increases in maximal strength (P<.05) after RET. Number of active tender points, myalgic score, and FIQ score were decreased (P<.05) after RET in women with FM. Heart rate and natural log (Ln) high frequency (LnHF) were recovered, whereas Ln low frequency (LnLF) and LnLF/LnHF ratio were increased (P<.05) 20 minutes after acute leg resistance exercise. There were no significant effects of RET on HRV at rest or postexercise.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that cardiovagal modulation of heart rate recovers early after leg resistance exercise in women with FM and HCs. It is concluded that RET reduces the severity of FM, but it has no impact on autonomic modulation of heart rate.
Kingsley
J Derek
JD
Department of Physical Education, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA. derek.kingsley@indstate.edu
McMillan
Victor
V
Figueroa
Arturo
A
D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D055070:Resistance Training; D012720:Severity of Illness Index