Importance of physical activity in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a condition characterized by chronic widespread pain, along with fatigue, sleep disturbances. The etiology and pathophysiology of FMS remain unclear; however, current literature supports the hypothesis of involvement of central sensitization, whereby pain signals and subsequent sensations are amplified in central nervous system pathways. The incidence is higher in women than in men. In these terms, this article sought to answer the following guiding question: how is the practice of physical activity effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome, especially in women? This is a systematic review that included searches until September 2023 on the PubMed data platform using the following descriptors: Fibromyalgia; Exercise; Women. Works that evaluated the relationship between the practice of physical activities and the treatment of fibromyalgia, especially in women, were included. Publications that addressed physical exercises related to other disease contexts were discarded. In the end, 5 works were selected. The findings suggest that, although physical exercise is not the definitive cure for fibromyalgia, studies suggest that it plays an important role in managing the syndrome.