Abstract:

Aim: In this study, the effect of physical activity level on pain, interoceptive awareness, and personal well-being in women with fibromyalgia was investigated. Methods: Fifty female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome who applied to the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic were evaluated as follows: Demographics (age, occupational status, and body mass index (BMI)) were recorded, pain levels were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS), physical activity levels were evaluated with the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), personal well-being were evaluated with the personal well-being index adult form (PWI-A) and interoceptive awareness were evaluated with multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness (MAIA). Results: The mean age of the participants was 50.96±8.35, and the mean BMI was 27.74±4.01. Fifty-four % of the participants had low physical activity levels and 46% had moderate physical activity levels. The mean MAIA total score was 19.44±3.73 and the mean VAS was 6.32±1.69. In correlation analysis, a large negative statistically significant relationship between VAS and PWI-A (p<0.001, r=-0.780), VAS and all subscores and total scores of MAIA (p<0.001) except no relationship with not distracting (p>0.05) and moderate positive relationship with noticing scores (p<0.01, r=0.380) was found. Large positive statistically significant relationship between IPAQ and PWI-A (p<0.001, r=0.755), IPAQ and all subscores and total scores of MAIA (p<0.001) except no relationship with not distracting (p>0.05) and moderate negative relationship with noticing scores (p<0.001, r=-0.489) and large negative relationship between IPAQ and VAS (p<0.001, r=-0.796) was found. Conclusion: Interoceptive awareness is impaired in women with fibromyalgia. Decreased interoceptive awareness and well-being are closely associated with physical activity levels. Regular exercise and optimal physical activity may increase interoceptive awareness and improve the quality of life in fibromyalgia.

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