Effects of Electro-Muscle Stimulation Exercise Combined with Mat Pilates on Pain, Anxiety, and Strength in Sedentary Females with Fibromyalgia: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a chronic pain disorder that is ranked as one of the four most common rheumatological diseases in the world. This study aims to investigate the effects of an eight-week mat Pilates and electro-muscle stimulation (EMS) with combined mat Pilates exercises on pain, depression, anxiety, and strength in sedentary women.

METHODS

This study is a single-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 30 sedentary female patients (Pilates (n = 15), EMS (n = 15)) diagnosed with FM were included in the study. The patients were subjected to Beck Depression (BDIs) and Anxiety Inventories (BAIs); a Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ); five different Single-Leg Hop Tests (SLHTs); modified push-up (MPU), Handgrip Strength (HGS), Deep Squat (DSQ), V-Sit Flexor, bent-arm hang (BA), sit-up and Biering-Sørensen tests; and anthropometric tests before and after the 8-week exercise program.

RESULTS

The eight weeks of mat Pilates exercises combined with mat Pilates and EMS revealed significant results ( < 0.05) in anthropometric data (abdomen, lower abdomen, hips) ( < 0.05) except for the results of chest circumference measurements ( > 0.05). In addition, there were statistically significant positive results in BDIs, BAIs, FIQs, lower extremity (all SLHTs and DSQ), upper extremity (MPU, HGS, BA), and core (V-SIT, sit-up, Biering-Sørensen test) strength test findings ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Combining the mat Pilates exercises with EMS is an effective and reliable method to improve the pain, anxiety, depression, and strength of female patients diagnosed with FM.