Young people who have developed fibromyalgia may alleviate painful side effects by exercising regularly, according to findings published in The Journal of Pain.

In an effort to better understand how physical activity may improve joint and muscle pain among adolescents, researchers enrolled 104 individuals aged 11 to 18 years in a one-week trial. Participants wore actigraphs, a device that records each individual’s physical activity levels.

The researchers discovered that one study participant exercised for 60 minutes per day, while approximately 23 percent of these individuals were active 30 minutes per day.

The team discovered that the most active adolescents were in less pain, and experienced fewer symptoms including depression and irregular sleep patters. However, the inactive participants slept poorly, and were in more pain and more depressed.

While increasing one’s physical activity proved beneficial for young fibromyalgia patients, investigators suggested that further research will be needed to determine the long-term effects of regular exercising.

In addition to increased physical activity, other natural alternatives for fibromyalgia pain relief include acupuncture, therapeutic message and chiropractic treatments, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association.