According to a recent study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the physical fitness of patients with fibromyalgia improves significantly following a combination of CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and exercise training. In the current study, participants with high-risk fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) a wait-list control (WLC) and (2) a treatment condition (TC) consisting of 16 twice-weekly CBT sessions plus tailored exercise training. Participants in the TC also attended a follow up session at 3 months post treatment. Results showed that the fitness level of participants in the treatment condition improved significantly compared to those in the control.
Van, K. S., Kraaimaat, F. W., Wirken, L., Evers, A. W. M., Van, L. W., Van, H. T., Vedder, A., … Van, R. P. L. C. M. (December 01, 2011). Tailored cognitive-behavioural therapy and exercise training improves the physical fitness of patients with fibromyalgia. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 70, 12, 2131-2133.