Symptoms in women with fibromyalgia after performing physical activity: the role of pain catastrophizing and disease impact

INTRODUCTION: Walking is an effective treatment for symptoms’ management in patients with fibromyalgia. However, despite its benefits, fibromyalgia patients face a variety of obstacles that result in reduced ability to sustain physical exercise. The main goal of the study was to analyze the role of pain catastrophizing and fibromyalgia impact in the relationship between regular walking behavior and pain and fatigue experienced after a laboratory walking test. METHOD: The study has an observational analytical laboratory design. A total of 100 women were contacted by the research team. Seventy-six women diagnosed with fibromyalgia aged 18 years and older (mean age = 55.05, SD = 7.69) participated. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found among regular walking behavior, pain catastrophizing, impact of fibromyalgia, pain intensity after walking, and fatigue intensity after walking. The serial multiple mediation analyses confirmed that pain catastrophizing and impact of fibromyalgia mediated the relationship between regular walking behavior and the level of pain (beta B = 0.044, 95% CI = [0.01–0.012]) and fatigue (beta B = 0.028, 95% CI = [0.01–0.08]) after the laboratory walking test. Also, the participants that walked less regularly experienced more pain and fatigue after the 6-Minute Walk Test. CONCLUSIONS: Considering cognitive variables alongside the impact of fibromyalgia will help understand the inhibitors of engaging in physical activity. Therapeutic walking programs must be tailored to patients with fibromyalgia to reduce pain and fatigue related to physical activity and to promote better functioning and quality of life. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10067-022-06342-5.