Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of the study was to assess gait pattern of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM) while performing demanding motor and/or cognitive dual tasks while walking. Further, idea was to explore possible correlations of dual task gait pattern alterations to patients’ functional status and presence or absence of clinical symptoms associated with FM.MethodsTwenty-four female FM patients and 24 healthy female subjects performed a basic walking task, a dual motor, a dual mental (cognitive) and a combined, dual motor and cognitive task simultaneously. Quantitative spatial (stride length) and temporal (cycle time, swing time and double support time) gait parameters were measured using GAITRite walkway system and their variability was assessed. Patients underwent clinical examination including assessment of functional status, pain and fatigue level, psychiatric and cognitive manifestations.ResultsThe motor, cognitive and combined dual tasks affect gait performance in FM patients. Difference in tasks between FM and healthy subjects was found as double support time prolongation. Comparison of tasks showing that cycle time in FM was longer than controls and stride length was shorter in patients for all conditions, while no changes were found in any of the gait parameters variability. Further, mental/cognitive dual tasks had a larger effect than motor tasks. Correlations were also found between depression and functional status of the patients and the gait parameters.ConclusionsGait is affected in FM patients while dual task walking. No changes in stride-to-stride variability point that patients preserve stability in complex walking situations. Analysis of gait may provide additional information for the FM identification based on presence of clinical features and cognitive status. Correlation of dual task gait alterations with occurrence of clinical symptoms and influence of cognitive changes on gait pattern could additionally define FM subgroups.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic incapacitating disease characterized by multi-focal, widespread pain
Concerning EQ 5D 3L, we found correlation for swing time (SWT) and coefficient of variation (CV) SWT and CV double support time (DST) in most of the walking tasks, respectively
No changes in stride-to-stride variability indicated that patients preserve stability in complex walking situations, in spite of potential clinical symptoms effect
Summary
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic incapacitating disease characterized by multi-focal, widespread pain. Given that cognitive impairment in FM is one of the emerging key symptoms, quantitative gait analysis under motor and cognitive dual tasks could point toward influence of cognitive changes on gait pattern. Better understanding of gait changes might lead to better characterization of FM patients, and possibly could distinguish FM subgroups [11, 12]. The aim of the study was to assess gait pattern of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM) while performing demanding motor and/or cognitive dual tasks while walking. Idea was to explore possible correlations of dual task gait pattern alterations to patients’ functional status and presence or absence of clinical symptoms associated with FM
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