Effects of a Telerehabilitation Program in Women with Fibromyalgia at 6-Month Follow-Up: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

(1) Background: Telerehabilitation allows health professionals to monitor patients without face-to-face contact. The objective was to analyze the effects of a telerehabilitation program based on aerobic exercise in women with fibromyalgia at 6-month follow-up. (2) Methods: Participants were randomized into the telerehabilitation group (n = 17) or the control group (n = 17). The telerehabilitation group performed 30 sessions of exercise for 15 weeks. The exercises were guided by video and adjusted by videocalls. Pain intensity, fibromyalgia impact, physical function, isometric strength and quality of life were measured at baseline and at 6 months after the end of the intervention. (3) Results: There were no between-group differences in pain intensity, fibromyalgia impact, physical function, isometric strength or quality of life at 6-month follow-up (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusion: A telerehabilitation exercise program based on aerobic exercises may not be an effective treatment for women with fibromyalgia at 6 months of follow-up due to the lack of between-group differences in any variable.

Keywords

• chronic pain
• exercise
• fibromyalgia
• telemedicine
• telerehabilitation