Abstract
The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to detect whether women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have altered postural control and to study the sensory contribution to postural control. We also explored the possibility that self-induced anxiety and lower limb strength may be related to postural control. For this purpose, 129 women within an age range of 40 to 70 years were enrolled. Eighty of the enrolled women had FMS. Postural control variables, such as Ellipse, Root mean square (RMS) and Sample entropy (SampEn), in both directions (i.e. mediolateral and anteroposterior), were calculated under five different conditions. A force plate was used to register the center of pressure shifts. Furthermore, isometric lower limb strength was recorded with a portable dynamometer and normalized by lean body mass. The results showed that women with FMS have impaired postural control compared with healthy people, as they presented a significant increase in Ellipse and RMS values (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in SampEn in both directions (p<0.05). Postural control also worsens with the gradual alteration of sensory inputs in this population (p<0.05). Performing a stressor dual task only impacts Ellipse in women with FMS (p>0.05). There were no significant correlations between postural control and lower limb strength (p>0.05). Therefore, women with FMS have impaired postural control that is worse when sensory inputs are altered but is not correlated with their lower limb strength.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a rheumatologic disorder with clinical features such as widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive symptoms and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety [1,2,3,4]
The postural control in both groups varied according to the test performed because a significant main effect of the ‘condition’ factor was obtained for Ellipse [F(1.83, 231.80) = 129.28, p
A significant main effect of the ‘group’ factor was obtained for Ellipse [F(1, 127) = 18.82, p
Summary
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a rheumatologic disorder with clinical features such as widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive symptoms and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety [1,2,3,4]. Previous studies have concluded that people with FMS may have altered perception or interpretation of audiovestibular inputs due to neural disintegration at brainstem level [5] and some sensory or motor deficits and suboptimal muscle coordination [6] that may affect postural control. The study conducted by Bennet et al (2007) concluded that one of the ten most debilitating symptoms was altered balance, with a prevalence of 45% [7]. Postural control fibromyalgia data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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