Table 1 Description of lifestyle physical activity (LPA) and fibromyalgia education (FME) protocols*
| Component | LPA | FME |
|---|---|---|
| Three, two-hour FM education and support meetings | NO | YES |
| Physical activity intervention delivered in six, one-hour meetings | YES | NO |
| Wear pedometer and keep a physical activity log | YES | NO |
| Prescribed physical activity | YES | NO |
| Approximately six hours of face-to-face contact time | YES | YES |
| Topics Covered During the Meetings | ||
| LPA | FME | |
|
"Physical Activity & FM" Described FM (symptoms, diagnosis, treatment)/benefits of physical activity/demonstrated moderate-intensity LE/prescribed LE and self-monitoring/identified and addressed barriers to physical activity (Sessions 1 & 2) |
"FM: What is it and how is it diagnosed?" Presented general information on the symptoms of FM and how it is diagnosed; Discussion and social gathering (Session 1) | |
|
"How to Keep Moving" Discussed progress, effect on symptoms, goal setting, problem solving, importance of self-monitoring, provided feedback, and troubleshooting (Sessions 3 & 4) |
"What causes FM?" Presented the latest information on the causes and consequences of FM; Discussion and social gathering (Session 2) | |
|
"Now It's Up To You" Planned for setbacks & developed strategies to overcome them, set long-term goals, self-monitoring over the long-term (Sessions 5 & 6) |
"Treating FM" Discussed of medical and non-medical approaches, including exercise, to treating FM; Discussion and social gathering (Session 3) | |
|
LPA Accumulate ≥ 30 minutes of self-selected physical activity five to seven days per week |
FME Did not alter their characteristic level of physical activity |