ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a preferred- versus a prescribed-intensity exercise session on pain in women with fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS: Twenty-one women with FM (mean age = 44 yr) completed two randomly assigned exercise sessions consisting of 20 min of cycle ergometry at a self-selected intensity and a prescribed intensity. Experimental pain perception was assessed before and after aerobic exercise. During exercise, HR, watts, RPE, and muscle pain were assessed every 5 min. Clinical pain was assessed with the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) immediately and 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after exercise. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Women with FM preferred a lower intensity of exercise than what was prescribed as indicated by significantly lower HR, watts, and RPE responses (P < 0.05). Muscle pain in the legs, however, was similar in the two conditions and significantly increased during exercise (P < 0.05). Pain thresholds and pain tolerances increased significantly after exercise, whereas peak pain ratings decreased after exercise (P < 0.05). Furthermore, pain (SF-MPQ) in the follow-up period was found to be lower than baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the women with FM who participated in this study experienced significant improvements in pain after exercise. The results from this study are novel and indicate that recommendations for exercise prescription for individuals with FM should consider the preferred-intensity exercise model as a strategy to reduce pain.
Subject(s)
Ergometry , Fibromyalgia/therapy , Pain Threshold/physiology , Patient Preference , Physical Exertion/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Affect/physiology , Analysis of Variance , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Young AdultABSTRACT
Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world. Although it is used for the treatment and prevention of many ailments, it is also used to increase work efficiency and is purported to increase energy and physical stamina. Athletes use ginseng for its alleged performance-enhancing attributes. However, many studies examining the pharmacological effects of ginseng on physical performance have not employed sound scientific design and methodology. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on published empirical research focusing primarily on the efficacy of ginseng with respect to physical and athletic performance. Despite attempts in recent investigations to improve on the scientific rigor used in examining the ergogenic properties of ginseng, the authors conclude that many of the same methodological shortcomings observed in earlier studies persist. Enhanced physical performance after ginseng administration in well-designed investigations remains to be demonstrated.
Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements , Exercise/physiology , Panax , Physical Endurance/drug effects , Plant Preparations/pharmacology , Stress, Physiological/drug effects , Clinical Trials as Topic , Fatigue/drug therapy , Fatigue/physiopathology , Humans , Immunity/drug effects , Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Physical Endurance/physiologyABSTRACT
A hard-core exercise addict 'can't live' without daily running, manifests withdrawal symptoms if deprived of exercise, and runs even when his physician says he shouldn't.
