Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1660-1666, September 2008

Effects of Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training on Physical Fitness and Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Heli Valkeinen, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Heli Valkeinen, PhD, Dept of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, FIN-40 014 Jyväskylä, Finland
    • ,
  • Markku Alén, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
    • ,
  • Arja Häkkinen, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
    • ,
  • Pekka Hannonen, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
    • ,
  • Katriina Kukkonen-Harjula, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland
    • ,
  • Keijo Häkkinen, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biology of Physical Activity and Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

published online 04 August 2008.

Abstract 

Valkeinen H, Alén M, Häkkinen A, Hannonen P, Kukkonen-Harjula K, Häkkinen K. Effects of concurrent strength and endurance training on physical fitness and symptoms in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective

To examine the effectiveness of concurrent strength and endurance training on muscle strength, aerobic and functional performance, and symptoms in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia (FM).

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Local gym and university research laboratory.

Participants

Twenty-six women with FM.

Intervention

Progressive and supervised 21-week concurrent strength and endurance training.

Main Outcome Measures

Muscle strength of leg extensors, upper extremities, and trunk; peak oxygen uptake (Vo2peak), maximal workload (Wmax), and work time; 10-m walking and 10-step stair-climbing time and self-reported functional capacity (Health Assessment Questionnaire); and symptoms of FM.

Results

After concurrent strength and endurance training, the groups differed significantly in Wmax (P=.001), work time (P=.001), concentric leg extension force (P=.043), walking (P=.001) and stair-climbing (P<.001) time, and fatigue (P=.038). The training led to an increase of 10% (P=.004) in Wmax and 13% (P=.004) in work time on the bicycle but no change in Vo2peak.

Conclusions

Concurrent strength and endurance training in low to moderate volume improves the muscle strength of leg extensors, Wmax, work time, and functional performance as well as perceived symptoms, fatigue in particular. Concurrent strength and endurance training is beneficial to postmenopausal women with FM without adversities, but more extensive studies are needed to confirm the results.

Key Words: Fibromyalgia, Rehabilitation, Women

List of Abbreviations: FM, fibromyalgia, HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire, NS, not significant, 1-RM, 1-repetition maximum, RCT, randomized controlled trial, Vo2peak, peak oxygen intake, Wmax, maximal workload

 

 Supported by the Ministry of Education of Finland and Peurunka-Medical Rehabilitation Foundation, Laukaa, Finland.

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)00394-8

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.01.022

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1660-1666, September 2008

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