The effect of supervised dynamic exercise program on somatosensorytemporal discrimination in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effect of a supervised dynamic exercise program on somatosensory temporal discrimination (STD)which indicates the central sensory processing ability. Patients and methods: Forty-eight patients (mean age: 43 years; range, 19 to 64 years) with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) were included in thisprospective, randomized study between April 2018 and October 2018. Demographics and clinical measurements were recorded. The STD thresholdwas measured by a researcher blinded to the treatment groups. After baseline assessments, the patients were randomized into two groups: thesupervised exercise group (SEG) and the home exercise group (HEG) as the control group. The SEG performed submaximal aerobic exercise andlow-medium resistant isotonic exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist, 1-h per day, three days in a week for four weeks. The HEG wasgiven a home-based exercise program consisting of low-to-medium resistance isotonic exercises and aerobic exercises 1-h per day, three days in aweek for four weeks. After exercise program, clinical assessments and STD threshold measurement were repeated. Results: Clinical and STD threshold measures improved significantly after four-week exercise program in both groups. The improvements in clinicalmeasures were significantly higher in the SEG. However, there was no difference in the STD threshold improvement between the groups. Nocorrelation was found between the STD threshold measure and clinical features in any patients. Conclusion: Although a significant improvement was achieved in impaired STD threshold with SEG, it was not found to be superior to theamelioration observed with HEG.