Physical and Mental Effectiveness of a New 3-week Exercise-based Intervention Program for Fibromyalgia Inpatients: Interview Revealed the Importance of Therapists’ Stance

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the physical and mental effects of a newly developed 3-week exercise-based intervention program for patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and the appropriate involvement of physical therapists in this treatment. [Participants and Methods] Questionnaire surveys (JFIQ, BDI-II, and SF-8) and psychological interviews of 12 female patients with FM were conducted before and after the intervention. [Results] The majority of patients showed some improvement in their JFIQ, BDI-II, and SF-8 scores. The patients’ narratives suggested the importance of physical therapists being aware of their pain and distress. [Conclusion] This study showed that the exercise-based program effectively improved both the physical and mental health of the FM patients, and also, that it is important for physical therapists to consider patients’ pain and distress during treatment.