Does Pain Acceptance Contribute to Improved Functionality through Walking in Women with Fibromyalgia? Looking at Depressive Comorbidity

Abstract

In the last decade, research has pointed to physical exercise as an effective treatment in fibromyalgia patients. Some studies have highlighted the role of acceptance and commitment therapy in optimizing the benefits of exercise in patients. However, given the high comorbidity in fibromyalgia, it is necessary to value its possible influence on the effect of certain variables, such as acceptance, on the benefits of treatments, such as physical exercise. Our aim is to test the role of acceptance in the benefits of walking over functional limitation, further assessing whether this model is equally valid, considering depressive symptomatology as an additional differential diagnosis. A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample through contacting Spanish fibromyalgia associations was carried out. A total of 231 women with fibromyalgia (mean age 56.91 years) participated in the study. Data were analyzed with the Process program (Model 4, Model 58, Model 7). The results highlight the role of acceptance as a mediator between walking and functional limitation (B = −1.86, SE = 0.93, 95% CI = [−3.83, −0.15]). This model, when depression is incorporated as a moderator, is significant only in patients without depression, revealing the need for personalized treatments in fibromyalgia, considering their most prevalent comorbidity.