Abstract
Physical activity and exercise are relevant behaviors for fibromyalgia health outcomes; however, patients have difficulties undertaking and maintaining an active lifestyle. With a cross-sectional design, this study explored the role of pain-related worrying and goal preferences in the walking persistence of women with fibromyalgia. The sample included 111 women who attended a tertiary health setting. We adapted the Six-Minute Walk Test where participants decided either to stop or continue walking in five voluntary 6 min bouts. Women who were categorized higher in pain-related worrying reported higher preference for pain avoidance goals (t = −2.44, p = 0.02) and performed worse in the walking task (LongRank = 4.21; p = 0.04). Pain avoidance goal preference increased the likelihood of stopping after the first (OR = 1.443), second (OR = 1.493), and third (OR = 1.540) 6 min walking bout, and the risk of ending the walking activity during the 30 min task (HR = 1.02, [1.0–1.03]). Influence of pain-related worrying on total walking distance was mediated by goal preferences (ab = −3.25). In interventions targeting adherence in physical activity and exercise, special attention is needed for women who are particularly worried about pain to help decrease their preference for short-term pain avoidance goals relative to long-term goals such as being active through walking.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue, among other symptoms such as nonrestorative sleep, anxiety, depression, and attention and memory disturbances
Owing to the relevance of physical activity and exercise in fibromyalgia health outcomes, patients’ difficulties in maintaining exercise, and the influence of catastrophizing and goal preferences on physical activity, this study aimed to explore their joint role in the walking persistence in women with fibromyalgia
Significant differences between groups were found on pain intensity (t = −4.68, p = 0.0001), fibromyalgia impact (t = −4.46, p = 0.0001), goal preferences (t = −2.44, p = 0.02), total walking distance (t = 2.05, p = 0.04), and number of laps (t = 2.07, p = 0.04)
Summary
Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue, among other symptoms such as nonrestorative sleep, anxiety, depression, and attention and memory disturbances. Usually show high functional impact and negative consequences in their quality of life, along with a high sociosanitary burden [2] Regarding this health problem, with multiple psychological and physical symptoms, the best treatment approach includes physical, pharmacological, and psychological strategies [3,4], with the objective of improving physical and psychosocial functioning. With multiple psychological and physical symptoms, the best treatment approach includes physical, pharmacological, and psychological strategies [3,4], with the objective of improving physical and psychosocial functioning For these patients, being physically active and doing exercise is widely recommended due to the positive effects it has on their physical function and quality of life among other health outcomes [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. Walking has shown positive effects on pain and
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