Table 3 Characteristics of included trials related to neuropeptides

Bojner-Horwitz et al. (2003) [36]

N = 36

RCT

ACR 1990

Dance/movement

Waiting control

14 months

PRL, NPY, DHEA-S, cortisol

The levels of serum PRL in both groups increased across the study interval, with the largest increase in the intervention group

Mean age:

(n = 20)

(n = 16)

4 time points (at baseline, and at months 4, 6, and

14 of the study)

57 ± 7.2 years (total)

6 months

6 months

There were no significant differences between baseline and 14 months in the levels of serum PRL between the two groups

Gender:

once a week

female only

1 h each

serum, saliva

The levels of serum NPY in both groups increased from baseline to month 4, decreased from months 4 − 6, and increased from months 6 − 14

There were no significant differences in the levels of serum NPY between the two groups across the study interval

Lund et al. (2006) [32]

N = 19

RCT

ACR 1990

Massage

Guided relaxation

10 weeks

CRF-LI

In the massage group, the concentrations of urinary CRF-LI decreased after 6 weeks of massage treatment (p = 0.01) and 1 month after completion of treatments (p <0.5)

Mean age:

(n = 10)

(n = 9)

3 time points (prior to treatment, after 6-week treatment and 1 month after completed treatment) urine

50.7 ± 9.7 years (total)

6 weeks

6 weeks

Gender:

twice weekly

twice weekly

f+emale only

30 minutes each (feet and legs 18 minutes, hands and arm 8 minutes, face 4 minutes)

30 minutes each

Bjersing et al. (2012) [26]

N = 49

RCT

ACR 1990

Nordic walking

Active control: low-intensity walking

30 weeks

SP, NPY,

The change in the levels of serum IGF-1 correlated positively with alterations in CSF SP (p <0.1), NPY (p <0.01) and pain threshold (p <0.1)

Mean age:

(N = 26)

(n = 23)

IL-6, IL-8, IGF-1, IGFBP3, NGF, MMP-3

52 years (total)

15 weeks

15 weeks

3 time points

Gender:

twice a week

twice a week

(baseline, after 15 weeks of exercise, 30 weeks of follow up)

female only

40–45 minutes each

40–45 minutes each

serum, CSF

Bazzichi et al. (2013) [33]

N = 41

RCT

ACR 1990

Balneotherapy

Active control: mud-bath therapy

12 weeks

BDNF, oxytocin,

The concentrations of serum BDNF significantly decreased in both balneo-therapy and mud-bath therapy after 12 weeks (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively), while there was no significant change in the levels of oxytocin.

Mean age:

(n = 20)

(n = 21)

SERT binding parameters, ATP

54.0 ± 7.2 years (balneotherapy)

2 weeks

2 weeks

3 time points

52.8 ± 10.2 years (mud-bath therapy)

6 days a week

6 days a week

(at baseline, after 2 weeks and after 12 weeks)

Gender:

20 minutes each

20 minutes each (mud pack 10 minutes and immersion in thermal water 10 minutes)

19/1 female/male (balneotherapy)

plasma, serum, salivary adiponectin, leptin, resistin, NPY, IGF-1, IGFBP3, NGF

20/1 female/male (mud-bath therapy)

Bjersing et al. (2013) [27]

N = 48

RCT

ACR 1990

Nordic walking

Active control: low-intensity walking

30 weeks

The levels of serum resistin increased in the group as a whole after 30 weeks (p <0.05) which correlated with decreased fatigue

Mean age:

(n = 26)

(n = 22)

52.0 years (lean group)

(lean 4, overweight 15, obese 7)

(lean 5, overweight 11, obese 6)

3 time points

The levels of serum NPY increased in the group as a whole after 30 weeks (p <0.05). This increase was only significant in obese patients (p <0.05)

(BMI 18.5 to 24.9, n = 9)

15 weeks

15 weeks

(baseline, after 15 weeks of exercise, 30 weeks of follow up) serum, CSF

53.0 years (overweight group)

twice a week

twice a week

(BMI 25 to 29.9, n = 26)

40–45 minutes each

40–45 minutes each

51.0 years (obese group)

(BMI ≥30, n = 13)

Gender:

female only