title: Exercise recommendations in patients with newly diagnosed fibromyalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate exercise recommendations in patients newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  A public university rheumatology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia (N = 122).
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency and type of exercise recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (standard deviation) age of these patients with fibromyalgia was 45 ± 12 years; 91% were women. Exercise was recommended as part of the documented treatment plan in 47% of these patients (57/122); only 3 patients had a documented contraindication for exercise. Aquatic exercise was most frequently recommended (56% [32/57]), followed by combined aquatic-aerobic exercise (26% [15/57]), and, infrequently, aerobic exercise only (5% [3/57]); only 7% of these patients (4/57) were referred for physical therapy. The primary method of communication was verbal discussion (94% [54/57]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is well-documented evidence that exercise is beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia, we found that less than half of patients with newly diagnosed fibromyalgia in our study were provided recommendations to initiate an exercise program as part of their treatment plan. Further investigation of these findings are warranted, including evaluation of other university and community rheumatology practices as well as that of other physicians caring for patients with fibromyalgia. However, our findings indicate that there appears to be an opportunity to provide more specific and practical education regarding the implementation of an exercise regimen for patients with newly diagnosed fibromyalgia. Physiatrists may be particularly well suited to manage the exercise component of patients with fibromyalgia because of their specialized training in exercise prescription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Horace
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kortebein
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome