Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with widespread pain and the presence of multiple symptoms. It is accompanied by fatigue, stiffness, sleep disorders and emotional distress. It requires a multidisciplinary approach of treatment, where regular physical exercise is crucial for long – term therapeutic success. A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of resistance training in treating fibromyalgia in reducing pain symptoms. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis was to investigate the effectiveness of resistance exercise in reducing pain in female patients with fibromyalgia based on a review of published scientific literature. Methods: The thesis is a literature review. The literature search was conducted in PubMed and PMC databases using the following keywords in various combinations: fibromyalgia, resistance exercise, resistance training and pain in fibromyalgia. Results: Seven randomized controlled trials were included in the literature review. All studies reported statistically significant reduction in pain intensity after resistance exercise by 0,9 – 4,2 score on Visual analogue scale. For assessing pain intensity researchers most frequently used the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire – FIQ, followed by Visual analogue scale – VAS and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey – SF-36. Discussion and conclusion: Resistance exercise could be an effective specific method in reducing pain intensity in female patients with fibromyalgia. Results were comparable to the use of aerobic exercise, stretching exercises and relaxation therapy. However, resistance exercise has generally not been shown to be more effective than other forms of exercise.
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