Fibromyalgia: is there association between balance and pain? a pilot study

Abstract

Studies of balance and risk factors for falling typically focus on the elderly population or on individuals with musculoskeletal pain. Although fibromyalgia is associated with intrinsic factors that predispose to falls (pain, depression, fatigue), few studies have researched balance and falls in this syndrome. The aim of this study was to verify the association between balance, balance self-efficacy and pain in women with and without fibromyalgia, and verify the association between Berg Balance Scale and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale). The sample consisted of 48 women aged between 40 and 59 years, divided into two groups: Fibromyalgia group (n=22) and Control group (n=26) with asymptomatic people. Balance was assessed by Berg Balance Scale, balance self-efficacy by the ABC Scale and pain by the visual analog scale. Mean scores for pain, Berg and ABC Scale were 5.4 cm (SD 2.6), 55 (interquartile range 54-56), and 54.6 (SD 26.6) respectively for Fibromyalgia group, and 0 cm, 56 (interquartile range 55-56), and 89.4 (SD 14.4) respectively for Control group. Statistically significant differences were found in balance on comparing both groups (p=0.000 for Berg Balance Scale and 0.009 for ABC Scale) with lower values for Fibromyalgia group. In Fibromyalgia group, pain was negatively correlated with balance (r=-0.48, p=0.020) and balance self-efficacy (rs=-0.56, p=0.006). Correlation between Berg Balance Scale and ABC Scale was found only in the Fibromyalgia group (rs =0.55, p=0.007). There are associations between poor balance and pain, and poor balance and decreased balance self-efficacy in women with fibromyalgia. There is an association between scales in the Fibromyalgia group.