EFFECTS OF A 6-WEEK ONLINE ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM ON PHYSICAL FITNESS, SLEEP QUALITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS IN ADULTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA

Purpose: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and reduced physical function. Adapted physical activity (APA) has emerged as an effective non-pharmacological intervention to manage FM symptoms. Online, home-based delivery of APA could improve accessibility and adherence, yet limited evidence is available regarding its medium-term effects.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 6-week online APA program on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), sleep quality and physical activity (PA) levels in adults diagnosed with FM. Methods: Nine participants (age = 49.7 ± 7.6 years) voluntarily enrolled in a 6-week APA intervention, consisting of two supervised online circuit training sessions per week. Each 60-min session included a 10-min warm-up, a functional circuit training comprising 8 stations, with a 1:1 work-rest ratio (30 s) repeated for 3 rounds, and a 10-min cool-down phase. Physical fitness assessments included the 2-Minute Step test (2MST) to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness, the 30-s chair stand test and arm curl test to measure lower and upper body strength, chair sit-and-reach and back scratch test to assess lower and upper body mobility, and the 8-foot up-and-go test to evaluate agility and dynamic balance. Sleep quality was measured through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while physical activity levels were self-reported via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in CRF, as measured by the 2MST (p = 0.04), and in sleep quality, with a reduction in PSQI scores (p = 0.03). A trend toward increased self reported physical activity levels was noted in the IPAQ-SF scores (p = 0.06). Conclusions: A 6-week home-based APA program represents a feasible and effective approach to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and sleep quality in adults with FM, with promising indications for increasing PA levels. These preliminary results support the integra tion of structured, remotely supervised APA into FM management strategies