Exercise effects on two men with fibromyalgia syndrome

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise program on physical fitness, psychosocial factors, and symptoms in two men with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). An interventional case study research design was used to collect data on physical fitness, psychosocial factors, and symptoms at intervals throughout a 14-month period. Raw scores and raw score averages, devoid of statistical manipulation, are presented to display real individual results. The secondary purpose of the study was to discuss how these two men tolerated the program in comparison to women in a similar program. This is important because data on men with FMS appear to be unavailable, because the greater majority of participants in FMS programs are women. Results support that these two men benefited from the program and that differences between men and women with FMS should be considered relative to the conduct of exercise programs for these groups.