This Master of Research thesis aimed to explore group-based physical activity (PA) interventions for people with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). Currently, there are multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses exploring the effects of PA interventions in people with FMS. These demonstrate multiple health benefits as a direct result of increased PA, however, there are no systematic or scoping reviews explicitly investigating the effect of group-based PA interventions in people with FMS. Group-based PA interventions may prove to be a cost-effective approach to achieve similar health benefits, with the potential of ameliorating some of the barriers to engaging in PA often identified by those with FMS. Therefore, the purpose of paper one was to identify the categories of group-based PA interventions that have been investigated within the current literature and to ascertain if there were any evidence gaps which would benefit from further investigation. The key findings from this review were that seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, four of which were RCTs, and the majority investigated multi-component interventions. This aligns with national guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the management of FMS. The review found that group-based PA interventions yielded relatively low attrition rates (mean=21%), although half reported attrition greater than the generally accepted 20%, therefore it remains unclear if group-based approaches are superior to other forms of PA in reducing attrition. There is a need for further investigation into the factors which influence attrition. An exploration into the lived experience of group-based PA may be helpful to identify the important factors influencing engagement and adherence, and this may contribute to determining whether the group approach is has the potential to be more beneficial than individually delivered interventions. Therefore, paper two presents a qualitative study exploring the perspectives of adults with lived experience of FMS and their views on group-based PA interventions. Key findings from this paper suggest that people with FMS perceive there is a lack of understanding of the impact of the condition at a societal level. People with FMS have a desire to feel validated and understood. They outlined the significant challenges they face when engaging in PA and expressed a strong desire for group-based interventions that are delivered by practitioners who understand the impact of FMS and its variable and fluctuating nature. Practitioners who are empathetic, non-judgmental and foster a collaborative, open and supportive ethos which takes account of individual differences in ability and symptom experience. These factors may play a crucial role in achieving higher levels of engagement and adherence in future PA interventions.
| Date of Award | 27 Mar 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Awarding Institution | - University Of Strathclyde
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| Sponsors | University of Strathclyde |
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