Poor Level of Physical Activity in Patients with Fibromyalgia Compared to European and French General Populations

Background: Patients suffering from fibromyalgia reported to have a lower level of physical activity than the general population. The aim of this study was to assess physical activity in patients with fibromyalgia referred to French Pain Clinics and to compare it with data obtained from a large European survey, the “Eurobarometer 64.3” (EB 64.3). Methods: This observational study was conducted in seven French Pain Clinics and included 76 patients with fibromyalgia. Daily physical activity was assessed by patients at their first Pain Clinic visit using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). According to IPAQ items, the number of days per week spent “walking”, in “moderate physical activity”, “vigorous physical activity” and “sitting” was recorded and compared (significance<0.05) with French and European data obtained from the EB 64.3 according to age and gender categories using Student t-test or Welch’s test (significance<0.05). Results: Compared to general French (Fr) and European (Eu) populations, 76 patients with fibromyalgia (FM) reported significantly lesser physical activity (days/week) in moderate physical activity (FM: 1.8 ± 1.1; Fr: 2.0; P=0.12; Eu: 2.5; P<0.001), vigorous physical activity (FM: 0.6 ± 0.9; Fr: 1.6; Eu: 1.7; P<0.001) and walking (FM: 1.8 ± 1.4; Fr: 4.5; Eu: 4.6; P<0.001). Time spent in moderate physical activity during leisure time (28.5 mins/week) was well below international recommendations (150 mins/week). Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time that patients with fibromyalgia are significantly much less active than general French and European populations and their daily physical activity are below international recommendations. In fibromyalgia, factors of this deconditioning such as pain, kinesiophobia or mitochondrial dysfunction need to be further investigated in order to improve fibromyalgia therapeutic strategies. Adaptation and individualization of physical rehabilitation programs for fibromyalgia patients are recommended to improve the clinical symptoms, but the long-term benefits of tailored exercise in fibromyalgia remain to be assessed.