{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T22:27:04Z","timestamp":1789424824209,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,7]],"date-time":"2023-09-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1694044800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Foundation Rovira I Virgili. Centre for Technology Transfer","award":["T18250S"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T18250S"]}]},{"name":"Foundation Rovira I Virgili. Centre for Technology Transfer","award":["T20061S"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T20061S"]}]},{"name":"Crowdfunding PRECIPITA Platform. FECYT (Spanish foundation for science and technology)","award":["T18250S"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T18250S"]}]},{"name":"Crowdfunding PRECIPITA Platform. FECYT (Spanish foundation for science and technology)","award":["T20061S"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T20061S"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Physical exercise is an indispensable element in the multidisciplinary treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The present study examined if men diagnosed with FMS engaged in any type of physical activity or exercise, the perceived effects from exercise, and who specifically recommended exercise. A qualitative cross-cultural study was performed in fibromyalgia clinical units in Spain and the United States. A total of 17 participants, 10 men from Spain and 7 men from the US, were included. In Spain, a focus group was completed in two parts, one month apart in 2018. In the US, five individual interviews and one joint interview with two men were completed in 2018. Three central themes appeared in the qualitative data: (1) Understanding what constitutes physical activity or exercise, (2) Facilitating or discouraging the performance of physical exercise, and (3) Effects of physical activity or exercise on psychological and social symptoms. The actual practice of exercise by patients with FMS is often perceived as leading to pain and fatigue, rather than a treatment facilitator. Physical activity and exercise can provide benefits, including relaxation, socialization, and increased muscle tone. However, minor opioids limit physical activity as they cause addiction, drowsiness, and decrease physical activity in Spanish men. Recommendations in a clinical setting should incorporate exercise as well as physical activity via daily life activities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20186731","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,7]],"date-time":"2023-09-07T10:09:50Z","timestamp":1694081390000},"page":"6731","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Physical Activity and Exercise Experience in Spanish and US Men with Fibromyalgia: A Qualitative Cross-Cultural Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0833-2152","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pilar","family":"Montes\u00f3-Curto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Primary Care, Catalan Healthcare System, 43500 Tortosa, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Medicine, Rovira I Virgili University, 43201 Reus, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8876-1848","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Loren","family":"Toussaint","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angela","family":"Kueny","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7077-9924","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ilga","family":"Ruschak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine Unit, Sant Pau i Santa Tecla Hospital, 43880 Tarragona, Spain"},{"name":"Faculty and Department of Nursing, Rovira I Virgili University, 43002 Tarragona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shannon","family":"Lunn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Division, United Hospital Allina Health, St. Paul, MN 55102, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Llu\u00eds","family":"Rossell\u00f3","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Santa Maria Hospital, 25198 Lleida, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carme","family":"Campoy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Lleida University, 25198 Lleida, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephanie","family":"Clark","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55901, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Connie","family":"Luedtke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55901, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandra Queiroga","family":"Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Support Unit, Terres de l\u2019Ebre, Jordi Gol Primary Healthcare University Institute, 43500 Tortosa, Spain"},{"name":"Family and Community Medicine Educational Unit, Tortosa-Terres de L\u2019Ebre, Catalan Healthcare System, 43500 Tortosa, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carina Aguilar","family":"Mart\u00edn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Support Unit, Terres de l\u2019Ebre, Jordi Gol Primary Healthcare University Institute, 43500 Tortosa, Spain"},{"name":"Evaluation Unit, Terres de l\u2019Ebre Primary Care Division, Catalan Healthcare System, 43500 Tortosa, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ann","family":"Vincent","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55901, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1737-4714","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Arya B.","family":"Mohabbat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55901, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1186\/ar4395","article-title":"Beyond pain in fibromyalgia: Insights into the symptom of fatigue","volume":"15","author":"Vincent","year":"2013","journal-title":"Arthritis Res. 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