Effects of a Telehealth Stretching Exercise Program on Pain, Sleep, Depression, and Functionality of Women with Fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Bruna Ornelas da Costa, Luana Siqueira Andrade, Cíntia Ehlers Botton and Cristine Lima Alberton ()
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Bruna Ornelas da Costa: Department of Sports, Physical Education School, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96055-630, Brazil
Luana Siqueira Andrade: Department of Sports, Physical Education School, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96055-630, Brazil
Cíntia Ehlers Botton: Institute of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, Brazil
Cristine Lima Alberton: Department of Sports, Physical Education School, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96055-630, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: The purpose of the research was to verify the effects of a supervised telehealth stretching exercise program on pain, sleep, depression, and functionality of women with fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This randomized clinical trial comprised 28 participants allocated into 2 groups. The experimental group (EG; n = 13; 49.9 ± 8.0 years) received a stretching exercise program with remote supervision for 12 weeks; the active control group (CG; n = 15; 47.0 ± 6.5 years) received counseling for stretching via an exercise guide and videos to be performed without supervision for 12 weeks. The following outcomes were assessed online: pain index, sleep quality, symptom severity, the impact of fibromyalgia on daily activities, depressive symptoms, pain intensity at rest and after movement, and flexibility. Data analysis was performed by intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) using generalized estimating equations (α = 0.05). Significant improvements were observed post-intervention for all outcomes in both groups, except for the flexibility by ITT ( p = 0.136) and depressive symptoms by PP analysis ( p = 0.065). In addition, the impact of fibromyalgia on daily activities presented better responses for EG than CG (ITT: p = 0.027). It was concluded that the telehealth stretching program, supervised or not, was effective in promoting the improvement in the main symptoms in women with fibromyalgia.

Keywords: rheumatic disease; coronavirus; physical activity; online exercise training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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