Safety and efficacy of short-term structured resistance exercise in Gulf War Veterans with chronic unexplained muscle pain: A randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a primary condition of Veterans suffering from Gulf War illness. This study evaluated the influence of resistance exercise training (RET) on symptoms, mood, perception of improvement, fitness, and total physical activity in Gulf War Veterans (GWV) with CMP.

Main methods

Fifty-four GWV with CMP were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of RET (n = 28) or wait-list control (n = 26). Supervised exercise was performed twice weekly starting at a low intensity. Outcomes, assessed at baseline, 6, 11 and 17 weeks and 6- and 12-months post-intervention, were: pain, fatigue, mood, sleep quality, perception of improvement, and physical activity via self-report and accelerometry. Muscular strength was assessed at baseline, 8 and 16 weeks. A

SUBMITTER: Stegner AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10214409 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature