Relationship between aerobic fitness and quality of life in female 
fibromyalgia patients.

Clin Rehabil. 2007 Dec;21(12):1109-13.

Ayán C, Martín V, Alonso-Cortés B, Alvarez MJ, Valencia M, Barrientos MJ.

Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of 
Physiology, University of León. cayan@edu.xunta.es.

PMID: 18042606


Objective: To determine whether there is a direct link between 
quality of life and aerobic capacity among female fibromyalgia patients.

Design: Cross-section study.Setting: University of León.

Subjects: Twenty-nine women belonging to the León Fibromyalgia and 
Chronic Fatigue Association.

Main measurements: Aerobic capacity and quality of life were measured 
by means of the Six-Minute Walk Test and the Fibromyalgia Impact 
Questionnaire. Outcome measures included heart rate and rate of 
perceived fatigue and dypsnoea.

Results: The average distance walked was 432.8 (61.2) m and the total 
average Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score was 47.5 (18.9). Only 
item 1 of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, physical function, 
showed any statistically significant link with the distance walked, 
which had no statistically significant relationship with any of the 
variables studied.

Conclusion: The physical fitness of women with fibromyalgia, as 
determined by the Six-Minute Walk Test and the Fibromyalgia Impact 
Questionnaire, has no direct relation with quality of life as the 
patients perceive it.