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Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
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Impact of an intensive dynamic exercise program on oxidative stress and on the outcome in patients with fibromyalgia

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation volume 43, pages 117–123 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intensive dynamic exercises on the oxidative status in patients with primary fibromyalgia (FM) and to explore the importance of these effects on the outcome of FM.

Patients and methods

We measured levels of stress oxidants (protein carbonyls, nitric oxide, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and antioxidant parameters (thiols and catalase) in blood samples from 40 FM patients and from healthy controls (n = 25) at presentation and after 12 weeks of intensive exercise program that comprised aerobic and strengthening exercises (lasting 1 h three times per week). In the patients, pain was assessed using the visual analog scale and tender points counts, and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory were applied at presentation and after 12 weeks of exercise therapy.

Results

At presentation, the serum levels of the oxidative stress parameters were significantly higher (P < 0.001), whereas the serum levels of antioxidant parameters were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in patients with FM than in controls. There was a higher significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the oxidative stress parameters following the 12-week exercise regime, whereas the antioxidant parameter levels showed a higher significant increase (P < 0.001) after the exercise treatment. Tender points, visual analog scale, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and Beck Depression Inventory showed a higher significant (P < 0.001) improvement with exercise therapy.

Conclusion

Twelve weeks of intensive dynamic exercise program should be recommended to patients with FM as it was effective in decreasing the oxidative stress parameters, increasing the antioxidant parameters, and improving the clinical outcome of this disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Benha University, 13516, Benha, Egypt

    Amal F. Soliman MD, Gehan G. El-Olemy & Waleed A. Hassan

  2. Department of Public Health Community Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Raneyah H. M. Shaker

  3. Department of Biochemistery, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Omminea A. Abdullah

Authors
  1. Amal F. Soliman MD
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  2. Gehan G. El-Olemy
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  3. Waleed A. Hassan
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  4. Raneyah H. M. Shaker
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  5. Omminea A. Abdullah
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amal F. Soliman MD.

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Soliman, A.F., El-Olemy, G.G., Hassan, W.A. et al. Impact of an intensive dynamic exercise program on oxidative stress and on the outcome in patients with fibromyalgia. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 43, 117–123 (2016). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.189642

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.189642

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