Hypermobility and deconditioning: important links to fibromyalgia/fibrositis

In this study 210 patients who were identified as having fibromyalgia/fibrositis were evaluated for hypermobility of joints. The patients were then instructed to perform an exercise program, and thereafter their compliance with the program and its effect on their symptoms were evaluated. The data were then analyzed using the Student's t test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Patients who exercised during the study had improvement. Because the hypermobile patients as a group exercised more than the nonhypermobile group, they showed greater improvement than the nonhypermobile group (58% versus 30%). Patients with fibromyalgia/fibrositis who have articular hypermobility are more likely to exercise, which will improve their symptoms. The ability to show the objective findings of hypermobility to a person with fibromyalgia/fibrositis, a diagnosis based on subjective symptoms and signs, facilitates management of the patient. These tangible signs help the patient accept and adjust to the diagnosis of fibromyalgia/fibrositis.