Table 1 General characteristics of studies

Alentorn-Geli et al. [6]

Spain

24 women with FM randomly assigned to either an exercise (n = 12, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 53.7 ± 9.4 yrs) or control group (n = 12, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 59.3 ± 7.3 yrs)

2 x/wk, 90 min/d (aerobic, 30 min walking, 65-85% MHR, or salsa dancing: 2, 15/min sessions plus stretching and relaxation exercises) for 6 wks

FIQ (depression)

Buckelew et al. [7]

United States

60 men and women with FM assigned to either an exercise (n = 30, age \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 45.6 ± 9.4 yrs) or attention control group (n = 30, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 44.3 ± 11.2 yrs)

1-3 x/wk, 1.5-3 hr/session, ROM exercises, strengthening exercises, and low-moderate intensity aerobic exercise (walking at 60-70% MHR) for 6 wks

CES-D

Daltroy et al. [8]

United States

71 men and women with either RA or SLE assigned to either an exercise (n = 35, age \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 38.4 ± 7.5 yrs, range 18–50 yrs) or an attention control group (n = 36, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 35.7 ± 7.1 yrs, range 18–50 yrs)

2.2 x/wk, 30 min/session, home-based, unsupervised aerobic exercise (walk, jog, cycle, swim) at 60-80% MHR for 24 wks

CES-D

Etnier et al., [9]

United States

16 women (age \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 55.1 ± 8.9 yrs, range 32–70 yrs) with FM assigned to an exercise (n = 8) or wait-list control group (n = 8)

3 d/wk, 60 min/session: walk, 15 min, 55-65% MHR, 8-station light resistance exercise circuit, static-bridging exercises, stretching, for 18 wks

CES-D

Fontaine et al., [10]

United States

84 men and women with FM assigned to a lifestyle physical activity (n = 46, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 46.4 ± 11.6 yrs) or control group (n = 38, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 49 ± 10.2 yrs)

5-7 d/wk, accumulate 30 min of moderate-intensity physical activity in short bouts throughout the day by walking, garden/outdoor, household or sports activity for 12 wks

CES-D

Fransen et al., [11]

Australia

152 men and women with OA of the hip or knee assigned to a hydrotherapy (n = 55, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 70 ± 6.3 yrs), tai chi (n = 56, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 70.8 ± 6.3 yrs), or control group (n = 41, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 69.6 ± 6.1 yrs)

2 x/wk, 1 hr/session, of either Tai Chi (for Arthritis, 24 modified forms of Sun style) or hydrotherapy exercises in warm water, for 12 wks

DASS-21

Gowans et al., [12]

Canada

57 men and women with FM assigned to an exercise (n = 30, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 44.6 ± 8.7 yrs), or control group (n = 27, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 49.8 ± 7.3 yrs)

3 d/wk, 30 min/session, aerobic exercise (2 walking/jogging classes in a gym, 1 pool class) at 60-75%MHR, for 23 wks

BDI, MHI (depression)

Haak and Scott, [13]

Sweden

57 women with FM assigned to an intervention (n = 29, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 54 ± 9.4 yrs of age) or wait-list control group (n = 28, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 53.4 ± 8 yrs of age)

qigong, 9 group sessions over 7 weeks (11.5 hours total), 2 × per day at home for 20 minutes each

BDI

Hakkinen et al., [14]

Finland

21 premenopausal women with FM assigned to a progressive strength training (n = 11, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 39 ± 6 yrs) or control group (n = 10, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 37 ± 5 yrs)

2 days/wk of supervised progressive strength training, 6–8 exercises, 8–20 reps, 40-80% 1RM, for 21 weeks

BDI

Ide et al., [15]

Brazil

40 women with FM assigned to either an exercise (n = 20, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 46.6 ± 9.8 yrs) or control group (n = 20, age, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 45.5 ± 8.65 yrs)

4 d/wk, 1 hr/session, aquatic respiratory exercise-based program in warm water, for 4 wks

FIQ (depression)

Jones et al., [16]

United States

101 men and women with FM assigned to a placebo and exercise (n = 47, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 49.6 ± 7.7 yrs of age) or attention control: placebo plus diet recall group (n = 54, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 49.8 ± 7.9 yrs of age)

3 x/wk, 60 min/session, low-impact, nonrepetitive cardioaerobics (30 min), strength training (10 min), flexibility training (5 min), balance training (5 min), and relaxation (10 min) at 40-50% MHR or Borg RPE scale 10–12, for 6 months

FIQ (depression)

Komatireddy et al., [17]

United States

49 men and women with RA assigned to a circuit training (n = 25, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 57.7 ± 9.8 yrs of age, range 40–72 yrs) or control group (n = 24, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 60.5 ± 11 yrs of age, range 35–76 yrs)

Circuit weight bearing with light loads and high repetitions, 7 exercises, 2–3 circuits/session, 12–15 reps,30-second rest between sets, 20–27 min/session, at least 3 x/wk, RPE of 3–4, for 12 wks

AIMS (depression)

Mannerkorpi et al., [18]

Sweden

69 women with FM assigned to either a training (n = 37, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 45 ± 8 yrs of age) or control group (n = 32, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 47 ± 11.6 yrs of age)

1 d/wk, 35 min/session, endurance, flexibility, coordination and relaxation exercises in a temperate pool for 6 months

FIQ (depression), AIMS (depression)

Minor et al., [19]

United States

115 men and women ages 21–83 yrs with RA or OA assigned to a pool (n = 47), walking (n = 36) or control group (n = 32)

3 x/wk, 1 hr/session (30 min of this was aerobic), 60-80% MHR, for 12 wks either in a pool (aerobic aquatics) or walk (aerobic walking) group

AIMS (depression)

Neuberger et al., [20]

United States

310 men and women age 55.5, range 40–70 yrs, with RA assigned to a class (n = 102), or home-based (videotape) exercise (n = 103), or control group (n = 105)

3 d/wk, 1 hr/session, low-impact aerobics (25.4 min, range 10–30 min/session) and strength training (16.67 min, range 15–20 min/session), 60-80% MHR, for 12 wks

CES-D, POMS

O’Reilly et al., [21]

United Kingdom

191 men and women with knee OA ages 40–80 yrs assigned to an exercise (n = 113, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 61.9 ± 10.0 yrs of age) or control group (n = 78, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 62.2 ± 9.7 yrs of age)

5 strengthening exercises, 20 reps per leg, performed at home on a daily basis for 6 months

HAD

Patrick et al., [22]

United States

249 men and women 55–75 yrs of age with OA assigned to either an exercise (n = 125, 65.7 yrs of age) or wait-list control group (n = 124, 66.1 yrs of age)

2-7 d/wk, 45–60 min/session of aquatic exercise, for 20 wks

CES-D

Penninx et al., [23]

United States

439 men and women (\( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 68.8 ± 5.6 yrs of age) assigned to an aerobic (n = 149), resistance, (n = 146) or control group (n = 144)

78 wks of training; Aerobic group: 3 d/wk, 40 min/session, 50-70%HRR, walking; Resistance group: 3 d/wk, 40 min/session, 2 sets, 10 reps using dumbbells and cuff weights

CES-D

Rooks et al., [24]

United States

152 women with FM assigned to an aerobic and flexibility (n = 51, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 48 ± 11 yrs of age), strength training, aerobic, and flexibility (n = 51, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 50 ± 11 yrs of age) or control group (n = 50, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 51 ± 12 yrs of age)

3 d/wk, of either aerobic (45 min walking) and flexibility exercises or aerobic (20 min walking), strength training (25 min, 6 exercises, 50% 1RM, 1–2 sets of 6–12 reps), and flexibility exercises for 16 wks

FIQ (depression), BDI

Sanudo et al., [25]

Spain

42 women with FM assigned to an exercise (n = 21, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 55.5 ± 7.1 yrs of age) or control group (n = 21, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 56.2 ± 8.5 yrs of age)

2 x/wk, aerobic (walk/jog, 10–15 min, 65-70% MHR), strength training (15–20 min, circuit of 8 exercises, 1 set, 8–10 reps), and flexibility exercises (10 min, 8–9 stations, 1 set, 3 reps for 30 sec), for 24 wks

BDI

Schachter et al., [26]

Canada

143 women with FM (20–55 yrs of age) assigned to a short bout (n = 56, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 41.9 ± 8.6 yrs of age), long bout (n = 51, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 41.3 ± 8.7 yrs of age), or control group (n = 36, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 42.5 ± 6.7 yrs of age)

Home-based, videotape-based, low impact aerobic exercise to music. Short bout group: 2 x/d, 7.1 x/wk, 12.3 min/session, 60% HRR; Long-bout group: 1 x/d, 3.6 x/wk, 25.5 min/session, 60% HRR, for 16 wks

FIQ (depression)

Sencan et al. [27]

Turkey

40 women with FM assigned to an aerobic exercise (n = 20, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 35.4 ± 9.6 yrs of age) or control TENS treatment group (n = 20, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 35.55 ± 7.9 yrs of age)

3 x/wk, 40 min/session, aerobic exercise (cycle ergometer for 30 min, plus 5 min warm-up and 5 min cool-down) for 6 wks

BDI

Tomas-Carus et al. [28]

Portugal

34 women with FM assigned to aquatic exercise (n = 17, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 51 ± 10 yrs of age) or control group (n = 17, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 51 ± 9 yrs of age)

3 x/wk, pool exercises performed in warm water, 20 min aerobic, 60-65% MHR, 20 min strength exercises, 4 sets, 10 reps, for 12 wks

FIQ (depression)

Tomas-Carus et al. [29]

Portugal

33 women with FM assigned to aquatic exercise (n = 17, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 50.7 ± 10.6 yrs of age) or control group (n = 16, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 50.9 ± 6.7 yrs of age)

3 x/wk, pool exercises performed in warm water, 20 min aerobic, 60-65% MHR, 20 min strength exercises, 4 sets, 10 reps, for 8 months

FIQ (depression)

Valim et al. [30]

Brazil

76 women with FM assigned to an exercise (n = 38, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 47 ± 10 yrs of age) or stretching group (n = 38, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 44 ± 11 yrs of age)

3 x/wk, 45 min/session, aerobic exercise group walked, for 20 wks. Stretching (control) group 3 x/wk, 45 min/session, 17 exercises for flexibility but without raising HR, for 20 wks

BDI

Valkeinen et al. [31]

Finland

26 women with FM assigned to a strength training (n = 13, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 60.2 ± 2.5 yrs of age, range 57–64 yrs) or control group (n = 13, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 59.1 ± 3.5 yrs of age, range 54–65 yrs)

2 x/wk, 60–90 min/session, strength training, 7–8 exercises, 3–5 sets, 5–20 reps, 40-70% 1 RM, for 21 wks

BDI

Wang et al. [32]

United States

40 men and women with knee OA assigned to a Tai Chi (n = 20, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 63 ± 8.1 yrs of age) or attention control group (n = 20, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 68 ± 7 yrs of age)

2 d of supervised Tai Chi for 30 min; Tai Chi every day at home for at least 20 min; 10 forms of classic Yang style Tai Chi, for 12 wks

CES-D

Wang et al. [33]

United States

66 men and women with FM assigned to a Tai Chi (n = 33, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 49.7 ± 11.8 yrs of age) or attention control group (n = 33, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 50.5 ± 10.5 yrs of age)

2 d of supervised Tai Chi (Yang Style-10 forms) for 60 min; Tai Chi every day at home for at least 20 min, for 12 wks

CES-D

Wigers et al. [34]

Norway

40 men and women with FM assigned to an aerobic exercise (n = 20, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 43 ± 9 yrs of age, range 23–62 yrs) or treatment-as-usual group (n = 20, \( \overline{x} \) ± SD = 46 ± 9 yrs of age, range 29–73 yrs)

3 x/wk, 18–20 min/session of aerobic exercise with 1) music session, 2) aerobic games (tag, ball games) at 60-70% MHR, for 14 wks

VAS