16 weeks of moderate intensity resistance exercise improves strength but is insufficient to alter brain structure in Gulf War Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a primary condition of Veterans who were deployed to the Persian Gulf War. The mechanisms that underlie CMP in these Veterans are unknown and few efficacious treatment options exist. This study tested the effects of 16 weeks of resistance exercise training (RET) on gray matter (GM) volume and white matter (WM) microstructure in Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) with CMP compared to GWV waitlist controls (WLC).

Exercise Training for Chronic Pain: Available Evidence, Current Recommendations, and Potential Mechanisms.

Chronic pain conditions pose a significant global burden of disability, with epidemiological data indicating a rising incidence. Exercise training is commonly recommended as a standalone or complementary approach for managing various chronic pain conditions like low back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia syndrome, and neuropathic pain. Regardless of the specific condition or underlying cause (e.

Exercise does not cause post-exertional malaise in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A randomized, controlled, dose-response, crossover study.

Unlabelled: Chronic multisymptom illnesses (CMI) such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long-COVID, and Gulf War Illness (GWI) are associated with an elevated risk of post-exertional malaise (PEM), an acute exacerbation of symptoms and other related outcomes following exercise. These individuals may benefit from personalized exercise prescriptions which prioritize risk minimization, necessitating a better understanding of dose-response effects of exercise intensity on PEM.

Methods: Veterans with GWI (n = 40) completed a randomized controlled crossover experiment comparing 20 min of seated rest to light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity cycling conditions over four separate study visits.