The Importance of Daily Activity for Reducing Fibromyalgia Symptoms: A Retrospective “Real World” Data Comparison of two Multimodal Treatment Programs

Sybille KRAMER1, Lana DEUSCHLE1, Niko KOHLS2, Martin OFFENBÄCHER1, Andreas WINKELMANN1

1Department of Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
2Division of Integrative Health Promotion, University of Applied Sciences and Art, Coburg, Germany

Keywords: Chronic widespread pain, multicomponent, multidisciplinary, multimodal, multiprofessional.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two multidisciplinary fibromyalgia programs with different intensities.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective real-world comparison of patient data, pre- and post-program datasets of Short Form 36 (SF36) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were obtained from a total of 210 female patients in two fibromyalgia multidisciplinary day hospital programs including one intensive program with daily treatments summing up to 20 treatment days during four weeks (P20, n=70) versus a less intensive program with 12 treatment days during four weeks (P12, n=140).

Results: Multiple subscales of SF36 and FIQ were improved in the pre-post comparison in both groups. In the comparison between the two groups, a statistically significantly higher improvement was found in the P20 group compared to the P12 group for the FIQ subscales of stiffness (p=0.001) and the number of days during which the patient felt “good” (p=0.007).

Conclusion: An intensive program of daily treatments and activity seems to be more effective in reducing fibromyalgia-associated stiffness and improving the number of days during which patients feel good than a less intensive program.

Citation: Kramer S, Deuschle L, Kohls N, Offenbächer M, Winkelmann A. The Importance of Daily Activity for Reducing Fibromyalgia Symptoms: A Retrospective “Real World” Data Comparison of two Multimodal Treatment Programs. Arch Rheumatol 2020;35(4):575-583.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

Supported by the FöFoLe (Förderung von Forschung und Lehre) program of the Medical Faculty of the University of Munich.