Treadmill testing in fibromyalgia

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] is a common, costly and debilitating chronic pain syndrome diagnosed in nearly 10 million Americans, 90 percent of whom are women. By definition, people with FMS have chronic widespread pain and specified tender point areas. Exercise is important in FMS symptom management for many reasons. One reason may be that deconditioned muscle is theoretically more prone to muscle microtrauma. Muscle microtrauma worsens pain during and after exercise and is, thus, a potent peripheral pain generator. Therefore, exercise testing and training are critical in many FMS research protocols. Objective: The purpose of this methods' manuscript is to discuss trade-offs scientists must make in selecting treadmill protocols, settings, criteria to stop the test, evaluating test validity, personnel to administer the test and subject safety and comfort. Examples from a currently funded study in FMS will be offered. We will report descriptive data and treadmill outcomes on the first cohort of FMS subjects in our ongoing trial.