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Peak oxygen uptake and ventilatory anaerobic threshold in fibromyalgia
Valéria Valim1, Leda M Oliveira, Alina L Suda
1Department of Medicine and Sports and Physic al Medical Center, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
To compare maximum oxygen uptake and anaerobic threshold in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy sedentary controls matched by sex, age, weight, and body mass index.
Methods:
Fifty women with FM aged 18-60 years and 50 healthy sedentary controls were studied. All were submitted to a maximum treadmill incremental test. Expired gas, ventilatory anaerobic threshold, and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) were evaluated. The influence of FM on quality of life was evaluated by questionnaires: the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form (SF-36).
Results:
In patients with FM, the anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake were significantly reduced. Maximum heartbeat rate was significantly lower in FM, indicating submaximum effort. Linear regression data showed a correlation between peak VO2 and the "Role-physical" domain of the SF-36. No such correlations were noted with anaerobic threshold.
Conclusion:
These results confirm the hypothesis of lower physical fitness in patients with FM. Considering that patients with FM do not achieve a maximum effort, ventilatory anaerobic threshold should be considered as a better fitness index than VO2max.