Exercise on Pain and Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia: Systematic Review

Pain Manag Nurs. 2026 Sep 30:S1524-9042(26)00308-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2026.09.011. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on pain and quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia.

DESIGN: Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PEDro, and SciELO, without restrictions on publication date or language.

REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS: We followed the PRISMA guidelines. Studies comparing aerobic and resistance exercise in individuals with fibromyalgia and reporting pain and/or quality of life outcomes were included. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024591421).

RESULTS: A total of 1,178 studies were identified, of which six met the eligibility criteria. The included studies suggest that both aerobic and RE are associated with improvements in pain and quality of life. However, no consistent differences between the exercise modalities were observed across the included studies.

CONCLUSION: The available evidence suggests that both aerobic and RE may improve pain and quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia, with no consistent evidence supporting the superiority of one modality over the other. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies and methodological heterogeneity.

NURSING PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses may support exercise participation in individuals with fibromyalgia by considering functional capacity, exercise tolerance, treatment adherence, available resources, and patient preferences when providing education and counseling on nonpharmacological management strategies.

PMID:42816196 | DOI:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.09.011