Background: Lumbopelvic stability is a crucial aspect of human biomechanics, as it plays a vital role in maintaining proper spinal alignment, facilitating efficient movement patterns, and preventing musculoskeletal injuries [1]. While the importance of lumbopelvic stability and strength in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients has been emphasized in prior studies, and although there are telerehabilitation studies for FMS patients in the literature, no study to date has specifically explored the effectiveness of clinical Pilates-based telerehabilitation on lumbopelvic muscles in FMS [2, 3].

Objectives: The current study aims to assess the effects of a tele-rehabilitation-based clinical Pilates exercise program on morphological structure, endurance, central sensitization, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in patients with FMS.

Methods: A randomized controlled study was designed. Thirty women with FMS were randomized into two groups: the telerehabilitation group (TG) or the control group (CG). An online clinical Pilates-based exercise program targeting stability and strength that was conducted for 8 weeks with 2 sessions per week was developed for the TG. The same exercise programs for the CG were provided in printed brochures, and patients were instructed to continue these exercises as a home-based program for eight weeks. Lumbopelvic muscle thickness, core endurance tests, disease activity, fatigue, central sensitization, pain, anxiety, and depression were evaluated in patients at the beginning and end of the study.

Results: Decrease in lumbopelvic muscle thickness and core endurance strength in FMS patients compared to healthy individuals (p<0.017). Post-treatment, both groups found decreases in disease activity, fatigue, central sensitization, pain, anxiety, and depression, along with significant increases in lumbopelvic muscle thickness and core endurance strength (p<0.05). However, the TG demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the CG in lumbopelvic muscle thickness (external oblique), core endurance strength (trunk flexion, lateral flexion), as well as reductions in disease activity, fatigue, central sensitization, pain, and anxiety-depression (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Telerehabilitation-based treatment programs are effective in increasing lumbopelvic muscle thickness and core muscle endurance. Accordingly, we recommend the widespread use of this innovative treatment approach in FMS patients.

REFERENCES: [1] Perpiñá-Martínez S, Arguisuelas-Martínez MD, Pérez-Domínguez B, et al. Differences between sexes and speed levels in pelvic 3D kinematic patterns during running using an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(4):3631.

[2] Toprak Celenay S, Mete O, Coban O, et al. Trunk position sense, postural stability, and spine posture in fibromyalgia. Rheumatol Int. 2019;39(12):2087-2094.

[3] Castro-Sánchez AM, Matarán-Penarrocha GA, Arroyo-Morales M, et al. Effects of myofascial release techniques on pain, physical function, and postural stability in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2011;25(9):800-813.

Acknowledgements: NIL.

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.

© The Authors 2025. This abstract is an open access article published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ). Neither EULAR nor the publisher make any representation as to the accuracy of the content. The authors are solely responsible for the content in their abstract including accuracy of the facts, statements, results, conclusion, citing resources etc.