To determine the effects of exercise (aerobic, strength training or both) on global well-being in adults with fibromyalgia (FM).
The meta-analytic approach and recently developed varying coefficient model were used to pool the results of previous randomised controlled trials of exercise (aerobic, strength training or both) on global well-being in adults with FM. The standardised effect size (ES) for global well-being from each study was pooled using a recently developed and novel varying coefficient (VC) model and partitioned according to per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses. Results were also compared to the traditionally used random effects (RE) model. Non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals were considered statistically significant with negative ESs indicative of improvements in global well-being.
Five ESs representing 377 participants were included in the per-protocol analysis and 5 ESs representing 252 participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Using the VC model, statistically significant improvements in global-well being were found for both per-protocol (-X, -0.39, 95% CI, -0.62, -0.15) and intention-to-treat analysis (-X, -0.40, 95% CI, -0.68, -0.13). Results were similar to those from the RE model.
Using the recently developed and more valid varying coefficient model, these findings confirm that exercise improves global-well being in adults with FM.