Exercise improves global well-being in adults with fibromyalgia: confirmation of previous meta-analytic results using a recently developed and novel varying coefficient model.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of exercise (aerobic, strength training or both) on global well-being in adults with fibromyalgia (FM).


METHODS
The meta-analytic approach and recently developed varying coefficient model were used to pool the results of previous randomised controlled trials of exercise (aerobic, strength training or both) on global well-being in adults with FM. The standardised effect size (ES) for global well-being from each study was pooled using a recently developed and novel varying coefficient (VC) model and partitioned according to per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses. Results were also compared to the traditionally used random effects (RE) model. Non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals were considered statistically significant with negative ESs indicative of improvements in global well-being.


RESULTS
Five ESs representing 377 participants were included in the per-protocol analysis and 5 ESs representing 252 participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Using the VC model, statistically significant improvements in global-well being were found for both per-protocol (-X, -0.39, 95% CI, -0.62, -0.15) and intention-to-treat analysis (-X, -0.40, 95% CI, -0.68, -0.13). Results were similar to those from the RE model.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the recently developed and more valid varying coefficient model, these findings confirm that exercise improves global-well being in adults with FM.
Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9190, USA. gkelley@hsc.wvu.edu
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult