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. 2018 May 3;13(5):e0196575.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196575. eCollection 2018.

Characterization of postural control impairment in women with fibromyalgia

Núria Sempere-Rubio  1 , Juan López-Pascual  2 , Marta Aguilar-Rodríguez  1 , Sara Cortés-Amador  1 , Gemma Espí-López  1 , Israel Villarrasa-Sapiña  3 , Pilar Serra-Añó  1
Affiliations

Characterization of postural control impairment in women with fibromyalgia

Núria Sempere-Rubio et al. PLoS One. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Differences between groups in postural control variables.
The bars represent the mean and the error bars, the standard deviation. Dark grey bar = fibromyalgia group; Light grey bar = control group; EO = eyes open test; DT = dual task test; EC = eyes closed test; FEO = foam eyes open test; FEC = foam eyes closed test; AP = anteroposterior; ML = mediolateral; RMS = root mean square of the center of pressure distance; SampEn = sample entropy. At the top right of the panel, the Ellipse of a representative case of the fibromyalgia group (right side) and one of control group (left side) is shown. * indicates significant differences between groups (p < 0.01).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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